One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

This day has been dreadful. The bailout deal collapsed, the market plummeted, tensions rose and, perhaps worst of all, all the people in charge checked out of reality and into a parallel loony-tunes universe - all but one, that is.

Since the Blame-Game is all the rage, I'm going to test my luck. Like the leading politicians of the day, I too shall whimsically frolic down the path of good intentions, join the chastising chorus, blame everyman and his dog and get high off my own indignation. So merry are we who shrug-off our burdens like they were sprinkles on a doughnut.

I have plenty to sing about on this night. I suppose it's only a matter of making my thoughts scathingly coherent.

First and foremost, George W. Bush was and remains an absurd failure. I cannot fathom how his approval rating remains in double-digits. It's astounding how ignorant or intellectually-inept some people are. Alas, such is the way of the world. But after this recent crisis, those who remain loyal to this incompetent cheerleader-turned-cowboy are beyond hopeless. I admit, eight years ago I was rather taken with his Southern swagger, beady eyes and "compassionate conservative" rhetoric. You know the story: He was a macho, lassoing Texan, and I, a young, reckless romantic. Sparks were flying!

At this stage, there is no point chastising Bush for his numerous mistakes, abuses and crimes. There is a time and place for everything. However, as this recent financial crisis has shown, his reign continues to wreak havoc upon America and world. He is still "the Decider," after all, and thus has a significant share in this stock market fiasco. Two weeks ago, I could not imagine Bush leaving office on a more "thank god he's outta here" note. He never seems to challenge reason, does he?

Of course, President Bush twiddled his thumbs for a week before doing anything remotely productive and, when he did, he sent out his ghoulish Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, to do his bidding. After days of strenuous negotiations, the Bush-Paulson gruesome-twosome had finally reached a deal with Congressional leaders - or so they thought. Naturally, their much-hyped plan failed to pass in the House, after two-thirds of Republicans - Mr. Bush's ilk - rejected the proposal. Stupid, crazy.

The Republican Congressional gang, lead by that charisma-deprived cracker John Boehner, explained that they would have supported the bailout, if not for a preceding speech by Democratic House Speaker "Nasty" Nancy Pelosi. No, seriously, that's their excuse. It was too partisan, screeched Republican Roy Blunt,to reporters, as he stood in front of a festering mob of Reaganomic geniuses. If this is true, then the big and bad Republicans are stating - on the freakin' record - that choice words from a sixty-eight year old grandmother hurt their feelings, causing them to sulk-it-out and go home. Jesus. Really, that's all you got? What despicable foolery. It's a lie, naturally, but such a pathetic, feeble one that it boggles the mind. Moronic, crazy.

I have both read and listened to Pelosi's incendiary diatribe. I must say, I was quite taken-aback by her venomous sermon. Any god-fearing Republican would likewise share my thoughts of horror and shock - shock I say - upon this poisonous proclamation:

It is a number that is staggering, but tells us only the costs of the Bush Administration’s failed economic policies—policies built on budgetary recklessness, on an anything goes mentality, with no regulation, no supervision, and no discipline in the system.

Democrats believe in the free market, which can and does create jobs, wealth, and capital, but left to its own devices it has created chaos.

It continues on, and on, with Pelosi suggesting that the Republican faith in a totally lassaiez-faire economy was somewhat misguided. OK, totally stupid. Regardless, the vast majority of the speech was forgettable populist nonsense. Now, should she have bashed Bush? No. Should she have ever-so-subtly demeaned conservative principles? Probably not. Still, the speech was fairly innocuous, and further, pretty on-the-money. That's not to say Pelosi and the Democrats are blameless, since 94 (!) of their rank-and-file voted "nay" for the bill. Unbelievable. Or is it? I, personally, find it rather curious that just enough Democrats opposed the legislation to make the Republicans - and thus John McCain - seem culpable for the mess. Regardless, by deception or disorganization, the Democratic Party must be held accountable for such silliness. Incessant, crazy.

Last, but certainly not least, we have our Presidential candidates.

After his cringe-inducing campaign "suspension," irritated debate performance, and failed White-Knight moment, you'd think John McCain would, you know, learn to shut up and act with a shred of humility and prudence. Not so, because all weekend long his slithery surrogates boasted endlessly about McCain's heroic handling of the crisis. It was a dubious charade. To Team McCain, however, so deluded and desperate by now, it was an inspiring fantasy. Oh, it was to be a blissful hour when the bailout passed, so we, the simple, one-house owning downtrodden mortals, could worship the fearless maverick and usher him into the White House.

Well, uh, that didn't go as planned! Oopsie. But instead of conceding defeat, John McCain did what any low-life would do, he blamed someone else, unfailry:

"Now is not the time to fix the blame. It's time to fix the problem," McCain says, not long after his campaign blamed Obama and Pelosi for killing the bill.
Then he blames Obama and the Democrats: "Sen. Obama and his allies in Congress infused unnecessary partisanship into the process."

Grim. What a confused man. I take back not a single word I have spoken or written about this shameless charlatan. Deranged, horrible, snide, temperamental, repulsive, crazy.

So Barack, it's your turn to crank up the crazy. Surely, this crisis would ensure that a man with the most sagacious of minds become frantic. Given the mood of the day, Obama would naturally succumb to partisan impulses and long-winding chicanery. I mean, such a volatile climate would make even Apollo sputter garbled nonsense and mutter foreboding tales of doom. Ah, but not so fast, assures Obama:

And today, Democrats and Republicans in Washington have a responsibility to make sure that an emergency rescue package is put forward that can at least stop the immediate problems we have so we can begin to plan for the future. As I said, this is a hard thing to do. And right now Democratic and Republican leaders have agreed but members have not yet agreed.

There are going to be some bumps and trials and tribulations and ups and down before we get this rescue package done. It is important for the American public and for the markets to say calm because things are never smooth in congress and to understand that it will get done. That we are going to make sure an emergency package is put together because it is required for us to stabilize the markets and to make sure that when a small business-person wakes up tomorrow morning, he will be able to make payroll.

We are not going to lose jobs at an even faster clip than we are doing right now. I am confident we are going to get there but it’s going to be sort of rocky. It’s sort of like flying into Denver. You know you’re going to land but it’s not always fun going over those mountains.

That's why Obama matters. Sane...and soaring, right over the cuckoo's nest.

The Shark and the Stooge

What to do, what to do, oh what to do when so confused.

I have not my wits about me this night. You see, I'm feeling quite ho-hum after yesterday's debate. But that's not because Barack did poorly. On the contrary, he was nuanced and assertive - without a doubt personifying "Presidential." Rather, I'm feeling somewhat aloof because I was so desperately craving McCain's demise, and so sure that Obama would strike with such force, that I presumptuously planned for a joyous day of pompous grandstanding. Oops.

That cursed Obama. Putting his needs - and the needs of the American people - before my very own. Who does he think he is? I wanted my damned knock-out! But no, he has to think about "winning elections" and "saving the world." C'mon, that's so yesterday. Let's just accept our apocalyptic fate and ridicule McCain as some sort of Nazi sympathizing, latte sipping, drag queen loving, Franco-Queer, money-bags, hipster doofus. No one will care about such senseless shenanigans once the markets collapses, panic ensues and we all become zombie hordes. Right?

Alas, Obama played it safe, and kudos to him. I suppose he thinks some disastrous Mad-Max scenario for the future avoidable. Idealist. Anyway, in the short-term, the strategy was wise indeed. Obama passed this much talked-about "Commander-in-Chief" threshold, spoke with sophistication, and acted, on the whole, like a gentleman. He can save the bravado and tenacity for another day. Interestingly enough, his graceful performance won him many a fans, as Nate Silver from FiveThrityEight explains:

The [CNN] poll suggests that Obama is opening up a gap on connectedness, while closing a gap on readiness.

Specifically, by a 62-32 margin, voters thought that Obama was “more in touch with the needs and problems of people like you”. This is a gap that has no doubt grown because of the financial crisis of recent days. But it also grew because Obama was actually speaking to middle class voter....

The CBS poll of undecideds has more confirmatory detail. Obama went from a +18 on "understanding your needs and problems" before the debate to a +56 (!) afterward. And he went from a -9 on "prepared to be president" to a +21.

Still, Obama could have hit harder on several occasions, yet he chose not to. Totally intentional, I would gather, because given the circumstances - McCain's clumsy display in Washington, his "to debate or not to debate" malarkey and, of course, the cringe-inducing Palin fiasco - the election should be effectively over.

Let's not forget that Barack Obama had a very, very difficult task - and still does and always will. Not only did he have to duel with McCain on foreign policy, but he had to be tough without, you know, being the "angry black guy." Prejudice in twenty-first century middle America. It's a bitch.

Sullivan, in a far more eloquent fashion, echoes this point:

But Obama is also a black man against a white man. So he must also be very careful not to get angry and to stay cool and calm. He has to do that to avoid the "angry black man" trap. But then he cannot afford to seem weak either. You realize how hard a balance that is for ninety minutes?

Obama has to walk through a racial minefield all the time.

Exactly.


Now we turn to that little rascal Johnny Mac. During the sparring I thought him to be a contemptuous brute. For the entire night, he made snide comments and indulged in his own god-awful wit. That said, he made some decent points, and often distracted Obama just enough to prevent exposing his own incompetence. So, I will give him credit, after a terrible introduction, he rebounded with some smart, quick jabs and demonstrated a command of several issues - Ukraine, Russia and Iran. That's not to say he was right, but he definitely knew his stuff and spoke with a distinguishable confidence.

But, as Chris Matthews and Josh Marshal noticed, McCain couldn't even look Obama in the eye - not once. How petrified or arrogant is this man? He clearly loathes Obama, respects him very little, and thinks him some sort of prep-school fancy-pants. How mistaken he is, that old man McCain. It wasn't Obama who was born into privilege, who developed a destructive James Dean complex, who left his crippled wife for a beer heiress, and who was involved in a notorious congressional scandal. No, Senator, that was you. You're the one, Mr. McCain, who does not deserve the time of day, the slightest gratitude, or begrudging respect from his opponent.

What irks me most about John McCain is, without question, his hypocritical martyr complex. And oh how he flaunts it. The man is morally bankrupt; he is an impetuous fool and life-long swindler. There's no denying this, yet he brazenly boasts about his "honor," brandishes himself a "maverick" and trademarks this notion of "country first." It's a sickening farce. I will have none of it.

I wish him nothing but humiliation in defeat. Regardless, I expect polls to remain close for now, but the seeds were sown, and Barack's about to blossom anytime now.

Debate Grades:
Obama A-
McCain B/B+

Foxy

Amidst all this pesky economic turmoil, partisan bickering, and "the-world's-on-the-verge-of-disaster" hysteria, I've been keeping afloat by daydreaming about a certain CNN newswoman. That woman, of course, is non other than Campbell Brown.

This savvy minx has become my favorite news-queen, dethroning the once-fiery Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC fame, who has become far too sugar-coated and obnoxious for my liking. So yeah, I'll admit, Brown's "Election Centre" is a fairly typical, uninspired show with the usual cast of CNN hacks and quacks. But what it lacks in originality it makes up for in eye-candy and spunk, thanks to the always-shimmering Brown.

OK, I'll confess yet again: Brown's allure ultimately comes from her fierce duels with John McCain's never ending band of misinformed misfits. My love affair began mere weeks ago when Brown, possessed with an undeniable hotness and a fact sheet, completely owned McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds (Aside: Why are so many bratty Republicans named Tucker?). It was a fantastic display of charm and wit - well, on Campbell's part anyway. She mocked Sarah Palin's credentials and exposed the entire charade in a sweetly destructive fashion.

Swoon.

Then, the other day, Brown began a humorously silly - but totally awesome because it's Campbell Brown - "Free Sarah Palin" campaign. Charged with feminine fury, she chastised the McCain campaign's sheltering of their much vaunted Moose-Maiden from the ever-scary Press corps:

"Tonight I call on the McCain campaign to stop treating Sarah Palin like she is a delicate flower that will wilt at any moment," said Brown. "This woman is from Alaska for crying out loud. She is strong. She is tough. She is confident. And you claim she is ready to be one heart beat away form the presidency. If that is the case, then end this chauvinistic treatment of her now. Allow her to show her stuff. Allow her to face down those pesky reporters... Let her have a real news conference with real questions. By treating Sarah Palin different from the other candidates in this race, you are not showing her the respect she deserves. Free Sarah Palin. Free her from the chauvinistic chain you are binding her with. Sexism in this campaign must come to an end. Sarah Palin has just as much a right to be a real candidate in this race as the men do. So let her act like one."

Ouch. Now, I'm not one for "girl-power, you go girl, holla sister" cheer-leading, but I was inspired. It was like Eowyn slaying the Witch King or, um, some other great moment in the history of women, all other examples of which I am unfamiliar with. Sadly.

The Turn of the Tide

Well, well, well. That didn't take long, now did it? Merely two weeks removed from the Republican convention and already John McCain's reputation and polling numbers have plunged dramatically. Pity, pity. It's such a shame when bad things happen to bad people.

The downward spiral will likely continue. I certainly hope so, since I'm enjoying it a great deal. Common sense and statistics confirm a further decline. Facts aside, McCain is simply too pathetic a politician and too reckless a human being to avoid disaster. Hate to say I told you so, Mac-Daddy.

Indeed. John McCain's tedious Jekyll-and-Hyde act has reached its logical absurdum. Thankfully, the once-enchanted press, so soothed by "straight talk" that they lost their senses, are no longer willing to applaud McCain's insufferable sophistry. Like orphans on Christmas morning, some just sit and pout, wallowing about Father Christmas abandoning them yet again, while others clutch their pen, scribble some curses, and rush off to the post. A nasty letter to Santa can do wonders for the conscience.

Liberals, along with the few remaining fair-minded inhabitants of the United States, are unabashedly exuberant. How quick they are to congratulate themselves when the sky is clear and the sun shinning. Weeks ago, as the horizon darkened, these leftists were panic-stricken, ready to capitulate, beg for mercy, and worship our new Alaskan overlords. That pitiful "woe is me" attitude has been replaced by a smug sense of self-satisfaction. Obama's supporters, especially those with the loudest voices, need to emulate their leader more often. His grace under pressure and splendorous sagacity are admirable virtues.

That said, my friends on the left, however misguided and wishy-washy, are nevertheless on the side of good. And today the ranks of the righteous flourished as disgruntled conservatives including former National Review editor Wick Allison and Republican Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest endorsed Obama. Unsurprisingly, McCain and his henchmen are desperately trying to reaffirm support for the faltering candidacy. This afternoon, for instance, the irascible Raul Paul spoke candidly on the McCain campaign's incessant ploys to lure him into an insincere endorsement. Well, that's not happening anytime soon, confirmed Paul, in this amusing tale of failure:

I can't endorse somebody that disagrees with me on all the major issues -- on the federal reserve system, on spending and taxes, and No Child Left Behind, and McCain-Feingold, and foreign policy especially. I mean I could never support somebody who thinks that its funny to say "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran." That to me is not somebody I could endorse ever.

I love this guy. He's a kooky Libertarian, sure, but Paul has a certain rebellious charm and moral standing that truly warms my heart. Give him hell, Ron. Honestly, if things proceed as they are, I expect both Chuck Hagel and Colin Powell to formally endorse Obama before 4 November. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but the signs are rather ominous.

He's got this.

Stay Cool. Know Hope.

The Wrath of Cohen

Richard Cohen is a typical conservative nuisance. Although not as smug as Bill Kristol, nor as brash as Jonah Goldberg, or as stupid as Sean Hannity, he rarely fails to test my patience.

You can imagine my surprise, then, reading his column today in the Washington Post, the appropriately titled "The Ugly New McCain." My oh my. If you thought my words were harsh, well sugar, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

So, Mr. Cohen, the floor is all yours...

McCain has turned ugly. His dishonesty would be unacceptable in any politician, but McCain has always set his own bar higher than most. He has contempt for most of his colleagues for that very reason: They lie. He tells the truth. He internalizes the code of the McCain's -- his grandfather, his father: both admirals of the shining sea. He serves his country differently, that's all -- but just as honorably. No more, though.

Dayum! Sorry, Senator, no manufactured outrage this time, buster.This is not Barack Obama, a Democratic stooge, or even a frenzied Daily Kos blogger questioning your poisonous stranglehold on "honor" and "country first." What will be the McCain Campaign's response to this hiccup? I'm sure Steve Schmidt will think of something absurd or vindictive, like that Cohen's mind has been overtaken my Al-Qaeda with help from Nanci Pelosi.

What's that Mr. Cohen, there's more? Oh, carry on.

McCain has soiled all that. His opportunistic and irresponsible choice of Sarah Palin as his political heir -- the person in whose hands he would leave the country -- is a form of personal treason, a betrayal of all he once stood for. Palin, no matter what her other attributes, is shockingly unprepared to become president. McCain knows that. He means to win, which is all right; he means to win at all costs, which is not.

Oh Snap! Even the faithful have finally realized that Palin is a total joke. That euphoria lasted as long as a school-girl crush, did it not? Those shameful conservative "intellectuals" still praising Palin, still clinging to their pathetic fantasies, are either diabolical or dense. They have lost all credibility long, long ago.

Frum, Brooks, and Cohen: congrats, you're sane. Wrong on countless issues, mind you, but sane.

Anyway, Cohen saves the best for last. Oh yeah, it's good.

Karl Marx got one thing right -- what he said about history repeating itself. Once is tragedy, a second time is farce. John McCain is both.

Uh, Senator McCain, you just got Marx'd. By Richard Freakin' Cohen!

Mad World

For a rumor had spread that, while the city was burning, Nero had gone on his private stage and, comparing modern calamities with ancient, had sung of the destruction of Troy. - Tacitus

I know pretentiousness. Just see the above passage. It's one of my many specialties. Economics, on the other hand, well that's certainly beyond my area of expertise. On the bright side, at least I have something in common with John McCain! But unlike that pesky politician, that conniving charlatan, that man with the temperament of a German schoolboy, I will not pretend to be something I am not; nor will I lecture on a subject I know little about.

Aside from self-indulgence and rhetorical flourishes, what I know and love is politics. The characters, the messages, the issues, the endless spectacle - all that jazz. I therefore feel somewhat confident discussing the matter and, on occasions, making rather brazen predictions - nay prophecies. If I can be so bold, let me make one right now:

Today represented a turn of the tide. I am now sure - barring some catastrophic incident or childish misguided faith in the American populace - that Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States.

Oh, Amadeus, but How and Why?, you ask, desperately. To that I say, patience, dear reader. All will be explained, on another day, quite soon.

For now, I shall speak this: Today, something dreadful occurred, yet out of the ashes, something wonderful happened. After weeks of desperate ploys and double-talk, reality caught up to John McCain. Sadly, as you surely know, companies folded, markets plummeted, and America plunged deeper in debt. But John McCain, in a moment of distress, exposed himself for the dimwitted, confused man that he has become. I saw it in his eyes - the panic and uncertainty.

In Barack, meanwhile, I saw fire. I saw in his eyes a reflection of the senseless fire that's scorching his beloved nation. I witnessed a man with grace assuaging worries and strength demanding change. It was all quite Divine.

There's no denying that we live in a truly mad world. These are frightening and ominous days indeed. The United States, once a beacon of freedom and prosperity, is on the verge of ruin. The economy, Iraq, energy, torture, health care - the list is endless. A decadent nation balances on the precipice, and, to be sure, controls its own fate. If Barack Obama fails in this epic quest - for it has reached such romantic importance - then there's not much hope left for these foolish Americans. Those innocent know-nothings with their heads in the clouds will soon catch ablaze and perish. Those in power, who are guilty of sparking the chaos, will shrug, distract, and whistle away the day, so detached from reality or devious in heart that they simply continue to play make-believe while Rome burns.

Where are you Big Brother?

How I enjoy the Sunday Times. After a Saturday night of devilish fun - or maybe not - it's nice to relax with a coffee, watch the sunrise, and read "all the news that's fit to print." Wars, corruption, poverty, economic distress - ah yes, some soothing Sunday reading always hits the spot.

Today's New York Times, however, provided little comfort. Not surprisingly, the reason for all the commotion surrounds the lovely Sarah Palin and her charming "boss" John McCain. Indeed, the most striking piece, "Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes," was one of the more alarming articles I've read in some time.

The Times finds that, as Governor and Mayor, "Ms. Palin runs an administration that puts a premium on loyalty and secrecy." You thought Bush's antics were something else? HA! This makes George Bush look like George Washington.

So, let's get to it, shall we? While Mayor of Wasilla, she aligned herself with the kooky evangelical powers that be, firing 'progressive' museum employees and chastising local librarians.

“People would bring books back censored,” recalled former Mayor John Stein, Ms. Palin’s predecessor. “Pages would get marked up or torn out.”

Witnesses and contemporary news accounts say Ms. Palin asked the librarian about removing books from the shelves. The McCain-Palin presidential campaign says Ms. Palin never advocated censorship.

But in 1995, Ms. Palin, then a city councilwoman, told colleagues that she had noticed the book “Daddy’s Roommate” on the shelves and that it did not belong there, according to Ms. Chase and Mr. Stein. Ms. Chase read the book, which helps children understand homosexuality, and said it was inoffensive; she suggested that Ms. Palin read it.

“Sarah said she didn’t need to read that stuff,” Ms. Chase said. “It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn’t even read it.”

“I’m still proud of Sarah,” she added, “but she scares the bejeebers out of me.”

Uh, yeah. Even charter members of the Palin fan club are freaked-out by her closed-mindedness and extremism. Palin's anti-intellectualism is simply off the charts. I mean, censorship of books that help children deal with homosexuality? In the 21st century? Can you image John McCain circa 2000 watching this election unfold? I'm sure he would be just as horrified.

So, how did she conduct her gubernatorial campaign?

Not deeply versed in policy, Ms. Palin skipped some candidate forums; at others, she flipped through hand-written, color-coded index cards strategically placed behind her nameplate.

Ridiculous. Was she running for class president or Governor? Palin was and remains a beauty queen brat, an intense crammer and effortless performer. Skirt the issues, hide from tough questions, and razzle-dazzle the masses with glib cliches and sharp cracks.


On cronyism:

As she assembled her cabinet and made other state appointments, those with insider credentials were now on the outs. But a new pattern became clear. She surrounded herself with people she has known since grade school and members of her church.

The cracks of the whip:

The administration’s e-mail correspondence reveals a siege-like atmosphere. Top aides keep score, demean enemies and gloat over successes. Even some who helped engineer her rise have felt her wrath

Dan Fagan, a prominent conservative radio host and longtime friend of Ms. Palin, urged his listeners to vote for her in 2006. But when he took her to task for raising taxes on oil companies, he said, he found himself branded a “hater.”

It is part of a pattern, Mr. Fagan said, in which Ms. Palin characterizes critics as “bad people who are anti-Alaska.”

Sarah Palin is an unapologetic charlatan and pathological liar. Moreover, she's corrupt and dangerously ignorant. Oh sure, she's tenacious, ambitious and smart, which makes her a fine, if not exceptional, politician - providing the majority of voters are stupid, which they certainly are. But as a leader, role-model, citizen and humanist, she fails miserably.

Although polls show the Republican ticket gaining or at least maintaining ground, I still believe that John McCain's decision will be costly politically. That said, if I'm wrong and he actually triumphs (god help us), then I know that his decision will be costly for the United States and the World. There's no doubting the damage a McCain-Palin administration would bring. America will be at war; ridiculed by the last remaining sensible nations; mocked by its enemies; fall deeper into socio-economic turmoil; and, perhaps worst of all, be in the midst of an Orwellian nightmare.

I'm Finding it Hard to be a Gentleman

Last night confirmed my worst fears. Sarah Palin is indeed George W. Bush - only in a dress and, admittedly, kinda hot (Sexist!). She's clueless, anti-intellectual, and embarrassingly unprepared to President of the United States. The prospect of her confronting the likes of Putin, Ahmadinejad or Chavez is absolutely terrifying. These madmen must be salivating at the thought of another Republican administration in power. It's chaos they want, and chaos they'll have.

Unfortunately, we're caught in the middle of this madness. Reckless ideologues playing a real-life game of Risk, so blinded by ideological blinkers and consumed with a fantastical ambition that reason, caution and mutual understanding is something to be ridiculed - like community organising.

In her interview last night - with a surprisingly thorough Charlie Gibson, mind you - Palin showed an incredible grace for lying, swindling and ever-so-subtle deception. But, that's not as important - for now. I expect such chicanery from a Republican. No, the real importance of last night's interview was to demonstrate that Palin is, without doubt, a novice in matters of foreign affairs and national security. At the most crucial moments, her answers were either long-winded or cringe-inducing or both. One Example:

When asked if Georgia joined NATO, whether the United States should go to war if the country was again invaded by Russia, Palin responded: "Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help."

That snippet almost seems sensible (it's not), but the more you read, the worse it gets. Then this:

Gibson: Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine?

Palin: In what respect, Charlie?

Gibson: What do you interpret it to be?

Palin: His worldview.

Gibson: No, No, the Bush Doctrine. He enunciated it in September 2002, before the Iraq War.

Watch the video. If the fate of the world was not hanging in the balance, this amateurish display might be a little funny. Instead it's just tragic. She's completely out of her league and lost. It's certain she had no idea what the Bush Doctrine was and why it matters. Indeed, her efforts were superficial and glib, at best. After hammering the "national security " issue, bashing Democrats for their so called inexperience for years, Republicans are ready to hand over the keys to this person? This isn't a bad Disney movie, it's a real-life nightmare.

If McCain was a man of integrity and honesty, I might pity him. Too bad. He's been warped far beyond repair. The Palin interview highlights McCain's startling dissent into the far-right, Christianist, neo-con freak-show.


Oh, but why take my word for it?


Shafer:

Palin can't blame her muddled responses on Gibson, who treats her fairly and conducts himself professionally. Never mind about her not being ready to be president. She wasn't even ready for this interview.

Sullivan:

Never blink, never think, just go with your gut. Pure ambition. Minimal thought....If you loved the last eight years, you'll love President Palin.

Marshall:

Painful.

Fallows:

What Sarah Palin revealed is that she has not been interested enough in world affairs to become minimally conversant with the issues. Many people in our great land might have difficulty defining the "Bush Doctrine" exactly. But not to recognize the name, as obviously was the case for Palin, indicates not a failure of last-minute cramming but a lack of attention to any foreign-policy discussion whatsoever in the last seven years.

Yglesias:

As we know, George W. Bush has outlined a doctrine that he calls “preemption” but that’s really prevention or “anticipatory self-defense.” It holds that we should attack other countries that might attack us at some future point even if we have no particular evidence of a specific or imminent plan to do so. As we also know, John McCain agrees with this doctrine. Sarah Palin doesn’t seem to know that this s what the Bush doctrine is, and, once recovered from her deer-in-the-headlights pose she outlined a different position, advancing an imminent threat standard

Lipstick on a Putin

Oh great, it will be like the Cold War, only really, really HOT! From The Page:

ABC: Palin Warns of War with Russia if it Invades Another Country.

This is absolutely insane. Please, let it be a joke.

Poppa Bear!

I've always had a soft-spot for Bill O'Reilly. For years, I adopted him as my clownish, ill-tempered, yet somewhat intelligent, Irish uncle. His frequent dismissal of dissenting opinions and impatience with kooky leftist hacks truly warmed my heart. And besides, without him, there would be no Stephen Colbert. The horror!

Ah, how times have changed. Rather than appeal to my mischievous, authoritarian impulses, he's now constantly aggravating my sensible ideals and hopeful soul. So, I switched to Keith Olbermann, gradually growing more distant from crazy uncle Bill. Now I laugh at O'Reilly rather than with him. Tragic.

Then came his sparky and thorough interview with Obama this week. The four-part discussion not only made Obama look capable and assertive - indeed, the O-Man called his guest 'tough' - but showcased O'Reilly's talents and genuine character. So, after that electric session, my respect for O'Reilly has improved considerably. O'Reilly? O'Really.

Yesterday, he even came to Obama's defence, chastising both the media and the McCain campaign for this lipstick jungle nonsense. To be fair, Bill-O has never been a pathological dingbat or even a calculating figure. That said, his buddy-buddy status with venomous pricks - Hannity, Rove, Morris - remains troubling. But, on a personal level, the past days have reminded me that liking uncle Bill was never that crazy after all.

The Conservative Soul

Thank God for Andrew Sullivan. He's back and, dare I say, even better than ever. For days, the Daily Dish was rather uneventful, which was awfully dreadful. Not only was I bored, but concerned that McCain's malarkey would go unchallenged. If there's anytime America needs Sullivan's sage musings, it's now. So, dear Andrew, no more breaks until now and November, OK? Needless to say the last last two days felt like an eternity. Upon his glorious return, Sullivan has called McCain out for his desperate - and deplorable - roll in the manufactured "lipstick jungle" controversy:

This claim is absurd on its face, like the Palin nomination to begin with. Absurd. And you can now tell who on the right has even a scintilla of intellectual honesty. That's all this episode is about: another tail-spin in the death throes of the Republican party.

My only advice to Obama: stay calm; stay cool; focus on the issues; behave like the president you want to be. They are trying to get into your head. But you are so much smarter and more decent than they are. Patience. And steel

Awesome and wise. Then, to follow up, he finally conceded that John McCain is a shameless, supine hack, who lacks the moral integrity to be President. *Swoon*

McCain has demonstrated in the last two months that he does not have the character to be president of the United States. And that is why it is more important than ever to ensure that Barack Obama is the next president. The alternative is now unthinkable. And McCain - no one else - has proved it.

It's on. Advantage Hope.

High Noon

Perhaps the greatest political pivot, like, ever? Maybe. Let's see how Barack handles the situation in the following days before making an assessment, shall we? I think he can work this into the debate, and really make it work. Anyway, here's his bold and beautiful statement on this whole 'lipstick jungle' sillyness.

Some of you may have -- I'm assuming you guys have heard this, watching the news. I'm talking about John McCain's economic politics, I say, "This is more of the same, you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig."

And suddenly they say, "Oh, you must be talking about the governor of Alaska."

[Laughter from audience]

See it would be funny, it would be funny except -- of course the news media all decided that that was the lead story yesterday. they'd much rather have the story -- this is the McCain campaign -- would much rather have the story about phony and foolish diversions than about the future.

This happens every election cycle. Every four years. This is what we do. We've got an energy crisis. We have an education system that is not working for too many of our children and making us less competitive. We have an economy that is creating hardship for families all across America. We've got two wars going on, veterans coming home not being cared for -- and this is what they want to talk about! this is what they want to spend two of the last 55 days talking about.

You know who ends up losing at the end of the day? It's not the Democratic candidate, It's not the republican candidate. It's you, the American people. because then we go another year or another four years or another eight years without addressing the issues that matter to you. Enough.

I don't care what they say about me, but I love this country too much to let them take over another election with lies and phony outrage and swift-boat politics. Enough is enough.

Hattip, TPM.

Columbia Graduate

John McCain is a corrupt, reckless idiot. His daughter Meghan, on the other hand, seems to be rather charming, if not completely, uh, austere. From Halperin's "The Page:"

On “Fox and Friends,” Meghan McCain joked she is “obsessed” with Gov. Palin, noting they both love Kid Rock. Also said she has heard her father use the “lipstick on a pig line” in the past, but doesn’t know whether Obama meant the line as an insult Palin

Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Sarah Palin, who might be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, loves Kid Rock? If that's not a sign of the Apocalypse, I don't know what is, to be honest.

Loose Lips Sink Ships

Ah, nothing warms my heart like old-fashioned manufactured outrage. So without further ado... The latest controversy in this never-ending election saga - quickly becoming an inescapable nightmare - is that Barack Obama used a silly and innocuous cliche on the campaign trail. Oh, it referred to pigs and lipstick. Yeah, I know, Sarah Palin popped into my head too.

From the Times:

“John McCain says he’s about change, too — except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy and Karl Rove-style politics,” Mr. Obama told his supporters here. “That’s just calling the same thing something different.”

With a laugh, he added: “You can put lipstick on a pig; it’s still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change; it’s still going to stink after eight years.”

In the latest sign of the campaign’s heightened intensity, Mr. McCain’s surrogates responded within minutes and called on Mr. Obama to apologize to Gov. Sarah Palin for the lipstick remark. But to those in the audience, it was clear that Mr. Obama was employing an age-old phrase — lipstick on a pig — and referring to Mr. McCain’s policies. He had not yet mentioned Ms. Palin at that point of his speech.

Did the McCain faithful realize the sheer foolery of their idiotic proclamation? Probably not. John McCain, after all, used the same expression about Hillary Clinton's health care plan last year. Moreover, his former press secretary (who happens to be a woman!) titled her book - guess what? - Lipstick on a Pig. So, a grand thanks to Jake Tapper and Josh Marshall for assuaging my worries, exposing the hilarity of the situation and, of course, reigniting my passion. I've had it with these Republican thieves and their treacherous phoniness.

The Real McCain

John McCain's campaign has quickly degenerated into a pathetic, supine farce. It began with that obnoxious 'celebrity' ad, continued with the Palin fiasco, and reached its logical absurdum today with a deplorable commercial stating that Obama, essentially, wants children in kindergarten to put down the Play-Doh and pick up a Playboy.

So, what's the deal? Obama, when he was a state senator in Illinois, passed a Bill to PROTECT children from monstrous pedophiles, and as such, included measures to teach them proper from improper touching. Well, in the duplicitous world of Rovian politics, this means that Obama's a cultural freak who promotes far-left, sixties-crazed sexual delinquency.

McCain's clearly sparking off another culture war, plunging America into more divisive and destructive political discourse. For that, he's a complete and utter disgrace.

For the obscene video, and some analysis, see the Huffington Post. Maverick my ass.

Georgia's Off My Mind

There comes word, by way of Politico, that Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, has wisely capitulated on the fight for Georgia. Bob Barr's uninspired Libertarian campaign has failed to ignite the South as once expected, leaving Obama - you know, that Black guy who might be a 'Mooslim' - on his own against a rather die-hard, deep-South Republican establishment.

McCain's addition of Sarah Palin to the ticket cemented the decision, most likely. I say, it's about time. Obama's initial fifty-state strategy was sweepingly idealistic, but realistically foolish. There's no need for grandiose triumphs at this stage, a squeaker victory will do.

So, sadly, time to abandon the Mandelbaum bravado.

It's All Good

Well, Barack's starting to do what he does best - kick ass and take names. It's about time.

Today In Michigan, a benevolent Obama reffered to Sarah Palin's story as "compelling." The audience, composed of the State's most spirited and well-informed citizens, immediately broke out in a chorus of boos. Such a claim seemed utterly preposterous! Obama, however, would have none of that....

"No, it's an interesting story," he quipped, to more, louder boos. "No, no, it is. I mean that sincerely. Mother, governor, moose shooter."

Owned. The crowd indulged in Barack's quick wit and laughed hysterically.

"That's cool. That's cool. That's cool stuff," Obama said.

Hattip to Ben Smith.

The Sky is Falling!

Oy vey.

There has been a flurry of worry today regarding the latest polls showing - gasp - John McCain leading! Barack's surely done, the dream is dead, the world over. It's only a matter of time before John "I'm no Winston Churchill" McCain and Darth Palin lead us all into the fires of Mordor.

Maybe not. As I was sauntering around the liberal/moderate blogosphere, making by daily rounds, of course, I could not help by chuckle at all the needless panic and silly desperation in the air. The Republican Bounce, as Nate Silver explains at FiveThrityEight, is just that - a bounce. Thankfully, the laws of physics prevent McCain's complete malarky from darkening the atmosphere for much longer.

Unless something drastic occurs in the next week, discussion of polls should be limited, or at least taken with some caution. Yes, the temptation to brood and obsess over slight variations and demographic variables is overwhelming, but do remember that the election is two months away. That's plenty of time for McCain to be exposed for the impetuous charlatan that he is, no doubt.

Stay cool.

Barack N Roll

It's crunch time, baby