Sarah Palin as VP: Could this be the hottest VP ever??!!!

To let you know how I feel about Gov. Sarah Palin as McCain's VP pick, gaze at the photo to the right whilst listening to the below attached youtube video:'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcoooajgm_Y&feature=related

In all seriousness, Palin is a great, gutsy pick. She will remind Dems why Obama didn't pick Clinton as VP, will consolidate the Republican conservative base, and appeal to blue-collar voters. Plus she hunts and fishes and is the mother of five children, including one with Downs Syndrome.

Love her. Love the pick.

McCain/Palin 2008!!!!

Democratic National Convention Day 4 Thoughts

Obama gave a great, great speech, superbly delivered.

He is truly Reaganesque in his abilities, a high compliment.

The decision to move Obama's speech to the huge football stadium, in my opinion, was a net gain. The spectacle alone was impressive.

The music at the end, though, was like the music that plays at the end of a movie when they roll the credits and you’re already walking out the door. That was weird!

All this being said, if Obama does not have a solid 5-7 point lead after this week he is in trouble.

I, for one, am glad this is over!

Now onto the Republicans!

Day Two Democratic Convention Thoughts

I pride myself as a pretty good judge of political character. For example, when John Edwards started to rear his pretty-little head as a national politician a few years ago I immeditately shouted, "Phony!".

I was right.

During the course of the very first election I ever voted in, 1992, as Bill Clinton ascended higher and higher I knew I was witnessing a self-absorbed phony-baloney become chief executive.

I could not believe this guy won. Still can't! Over George H. W. Bush, of all people!

I could not understand for a second that people couldn't see what I saw.

Bill Clinton has always been all about Bill Clinton all the time, 24/7, without fail.

It is always about him. Last night, during his wife's speech, I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him... To have his world crumble around him, to have his legacy be tarnished by his pissy-moaning during the recent Democratic primary rare.

Last night in Denver was Clinton Night. Tonight, Bill gets his turn. Two full nights out for four centered on Clinton Mania!!

Why has Obama acquisced to this? Does he think this helped him? That Hilary delivered a barn-burner speech (for her, that is) that will make 40-50% of Democrats think, "Man, I wish she was the candidate!".

At the very least it makes Joe Biden look smaller.

Why didn't Obama "heal the party" and pick her?

I, for the record, think Obama did the right them not picking her. That would have been disaster of epic proportions.

What he needs to do is kick the Clintons to the side and re-take the polticial oxygen.

Now.

Lastest polls: Obama and McCain neck and neck.

New Gallup Daily Tracking Poll and DNC First Night Thoughts

Here's the latest Gallup Daily Tracking poll:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/election2008.aspx

First the first time since May, McCain leads Obama 46-44.

This is a strong indicator that: 1) Obama's choice of Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate had yielded no net benefit, and 2) the lead-up to the convention has been muted and soft in general enthusiasm.

I would expect that the "bounce" from Denver this week will be, well, "weak". Maybe 2-3 points that will quickly dissipate.



I thought the first night of the Democratic convention was poor, doing little to explain to non-partisan America why Obama is ready to be president.

Sure, he's a swell guy who loves his family but we already know that.

Michelle Obama did fine and came across significantly better than people expected. She was poised and attractive although her speech was basically themed: "Look at us! We are just a regular, loving family!"

Ted Kennedy's speech, given his health, was excellent and moving. He's a true Lion of the Left.
The Republican need statesmen like this in a bad way.

In short, Democrats should feel a bit disappointed in how things are going so far. Look for things to turn worse tonight when the Clintons start to be trucked out in a BIG WAY.....time to pop some popcorn...

What Biden Really Thinks of Obama (and McCain)

McCain's campaign has really shone itself to be nimble and deft these past few weeks.

Good job!

Just who is William Ayers?

The above negative ad against Obama is fair and hard-hitting.

Why associate yourself with an unrepentant, anti-American ex-terrorist?

Obama has been evasive during the course of the election regarding the true nature of his past relationship with Ayers.

This, to me, speaks of lack of judgment.

Look for the McCain campaign and right-leaning, independent political groups to continue to drive home the meta-theme that:

"Barack Obama lacks judgment. He can't be trusted."

Time for some more Joe-Mentum!!!!

It's official. Obama has selected Delaware senator Joe Biden as his running mate.

I would call this an "interesting choice". This is the guy who when running against Obama for the Democratic nomination for president said that people were exited for Obama because he was the first "clean" African-American nominee.

Said Biden, "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy, I mean, that's a storybook, man."

Odd, huh?

A few other Biden statements that should interest a few people:

Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) Reaffirmed That Obama Was Not Ready To Be Commander In Chief. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos: “You were asked is he ready. You said ‘I think he can be ready, but right now I don’t believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.’” Sen. Biden: “I think that I stand by the statement.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 8/19/07)

Sen. Biden: “Having talking points on foreign policy doesn’t get you there.” (”Biden Lashes Out At Obama,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 8/2/07)

Sen. Biden Called Obama’s Pronouncement “Very Naive.” Sen. Biden: “It’s a well-intended notion he has, but it’s a very naive way of thinking how you’re going to conduct foreign policy. … [T]he way to deal with it is not to announce it, but to do it. The last thing you want to do is telegraph to the folks in Pakistan that we are about to violate - quote - ‘their sovereignty.’” (”Biden Lashes Out At Obama,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 8/2/07)

So what does Biden do for Obama?

Here are my positives:

* A Washington fixture - has been in the US Senate since we was 30 years old! He is now 65...
* International Foreign Policy Experience
* Good Attack Dog
* Older voters will like him

Here are my negatives:

* A Washington fixture
* Never has had executive experience (something Obama sorely lacks)
* Super gaffe-prone
* Doesn't help Obama win a state he wouldn't have won anyway
* The ticket will certainly sink like a stone now south of the Mason Dixon
* The Hillary voters aren't too happy now for sure
* Does this choice really get the base more exited?

Overall, I would rate Biden a C- choice.

I would have looked at California Senator Diane Feinstein. That would have been a killer
choice...would have neutralized the Hillary factor, would have helped Obama with Jewish voters (who are cold to Obama after the Jeremiah Wright stuff), is smart, well-connected, and could have helped too with older voters...

Where were you in 2003?

Obama is such a recent phenomena. Rarely has someone been so unknown just a few short years ago come so far in such a short amount of time.

I have nothing against fast-trackers, per se, but when you are talking about the US Presidency, experience and familiarity go a long way, in my opinion.

Given the weight of office I just feel a little more comfortable knowing that the incumbent executive had a national presence back when....I don't know... Seinfeld was on the air?

In 2003, just a few short years ago, Obama was literally a nobody. He was as much an obscurity as this man...drum roll, please...

Texas State Senator Kyle Janek!!

Senator Janek was a state senator in 2003 just like Obama. He is a distinguished man, just like Obama; an anesthesiologist by training, bright and hard-working.

Why are we comfortable with State Senator Obama from 2003 being US President but not State Senator Janek from 2003?


What were you doing in 2003? I was, let's see...married to Missy....still working for my current employers...

Hmm....not a lot has changed....but that's the point I am trying to make.

Obama and Abortion: From Commentary Magazine

The Mask Slips

by Peter Wehner

"I’m beginning to think that the abortion issue may have the potential to be, for Barack Obama, the policy equivalent of his long-time association with Reverend Wright. I say this for two reasons. The first is that Obama’s record on abortion is as extreme as one can possibly be. Senator Obama is unable to point to a single abortion he would oppose (his “health exception” for the mother is a well-known loophole whose effect would be to allow even late-term abortions), to the point that he was not even willing to extend basic protection to a child born during a failed abortion and living outside the womb. For a person who said, during his conversation on Saturday with Rick Warren, that the greatest failure of America is not to take seriously the injunction in the Gospel of Matthew that “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me,” this is an extraordinary position.

But this issue has now traversed into the matter of public character. Obama accused the National Right to Life Committee of lying because it said that he voted to kill legislation that included a “neutrality clause” he now claims was the sine qua non for his support for pro-life legislation. If the neutrality clause was in the legislation, Obama now says, he would have supported legislation protecting the life of newly born children who had survived an abortion. But National Right to Life has, in Rich’s words, “unearthed documents showing that the Illinois bill was amended to include such a clause, and Obama voted to kill it anyway.” So Obama was, at best, wrong in recalling his own past position. At worst, Obama himself is misrepresenting his position and, in accusing the National Right to Life Committee of lying, is doing so himself.

Senator Obama is becoming what the apostle Paul, in I Corinthians 13, calls a “resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.” By that I mean Obama uses language that is meant to portray himself as thoughtful and reasonable, able to grasp the nuances of every argument, even those with which he disagrees. Obama is himself, according to this narrative, the antithesis of an extremist. He is our hope for a post-partisan future, the answer to divisive politics, the solution to the “culture wars.” And yet on an issue of enormous moral gravity–Obama himself says that he’s “absolutely convinced that there is a moral and ethical element to this issue”–he has embraced legislation that is extreme, inhumane, and outright brutal. There is no indication that he has the slightest sympathy for unborn children or any interest in ending the “culture wars.” His past policies would, in fact, deepen the divisions.

It has become increasingly clear that we need to devalue Obama’s rhetoric, since it is so much at odds with his record. Maybe no issue underscores this more than abortion. It isn’t a pleasant issue to debate, but it is a terribly important one. And Obama is not only on the wrong side of it: he inhabits a small sliver of ground where few others have dared to venture. Many people, even those who consider themselves pro-choice, find killing a baby who has survived an abortion attempt to be deeply troubling and wrong. But not, apparently, Barack Obama–at least before he decided to run for President.

Senator McCain is often not comfortable talking about abortion, but as he showed in his conversation with Rick Warren, he can be effective in discussing it. This issue should now become central to the campaign, because of what it reveals about the moral sensibilities and radical views of Senator Obama."

The Sharpest of Turnarounds

According to the latest Reuters/Zogby poll released Wednesday, August 20th:

"In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Obama's solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll."

This is huge and a "soft-signal" that the Obama campaign is in free fall. It is that simple.

If they don't turn it around immediately say hello to President McCain.

To do this Obama needs to have a great convention, consolidate to his side the hard-core Clinton vote, neutralize the Clintons in general (why he granted them exposure virtually every single night and has allowed for a pitched roll call is beyond me), attack McCain HARD and REPEATEDLY, and, most of all, stop being the darling of the international press and the Hollywierd jet set. The regular voter in Fly Over Country does not like this. It turns them off.

I surmise that Obama started to take a turn for the worst when he went over to Europe for his Magical Mystery Tour. That was presumptious and fey. Meanwhile, McCain stayed in the states and pummuled Obama on his experience and on key questions around critical topics like energy policy and how to deal with our enemies.

Hail Obamasiah

That's about all I can say about that....

Daily (or almost daily) Poll Sanity Check...

Today, August 18th, according to the Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking poll, Barack Obama is attracting 44% of the vote while John McCain earns 43%.

When "leaners" are included, it’s Obama 47% and McCain 46%.

On August 19, 2004, in the same daily tracking poll from Rasmussen, it showed John Kerry leading President Bush 47.9% to 46.7%.

For final results, look at the General Election results on November 2nd, 2004....

This far out Obama should be leading McCain by 5-10%. The fact that he's not, especially given the horrendous national mood against Republicans in general, should be very troubling to Obama supporters.

Who Am I and Why Am I Writing This....

I am a political conservative better described as "classical liberal".

I am for, not necessarily in this order: protection for the unborn, low taxes, efficient, responsive government, civil rights for all citizens, equal rule under the law, a strong national defense, law and order and the protection of the innocent, respect for market forces, and private property and gun rights.

In short, I am a "Reagan Republican". Always have been. It's in my DNA.

That being said, I am not a typical conservative, whatever that means. Many of my dearest friends and family are Yellow Dog Democrats, proud liberals and strong Obama supporters. I am a huge Prince fan, watch Project Runway with my wife, am left-handed, and have what many consider a scatlogical, anti-authoritarian, left-field sense of humor.

I have no malice towards Senator Obama. In fact, what is suprising, at least to me, is that I do not harbor my usual automatic dislike towards him that I do most liberal national Democratic politicians, i.e., Congresswoman Pelosi, Senators Reid, Leahy, Boxer, Shumer, Al Gore, etc. He seems a decent guy and I admire his beautiful family and interesting background story. That doesn't make him qualified to be President. No way, no how.

So I write... Feel free to contribute too but please be civil....

Upward and onward! Excelsior!!!!