Proud to be an American...and not from Alaska

What we have witnessed is truly a watershed event in American politics, and in the social evolution of this country.

As has often been said, we are now one step closer to being a more perfect union. Will this end poverty in our country? No. Crime? No. Will every child wake up tomorrow possessed of the skills and tools to excel in school? Probably not (unless they have my wife for a teacher). But I have to confess that I woke up today feeling...different. Possessed of a positive attitude that has seemed so elusive for so many years. For me and for my family - my parents especially, who have dedicated much of their life together championing the cause of civil rights - there are no words to describe the exhilaration and optimism that this election has engendered.

Barack Obama had to overcome monumental obstacles in order to become POTUS #44. That makes his election a resounding repudiation of the failed policies of George W. Bush as well as a rebuke of a McCain/Palin campaign that cared more about fear mongering and character assassination than the issues at hand.

Today I am less cynical. My faith in our democracy is somewhat restored. I am proud, again, to be an American. I'm also damn glad that I'm not from Alaska...where the highest elected official knows less about geography than my six-year-old son. For those who today are breathing a massive sigh of relief...I'll leave you with a reminder of what we possibly could have been in store for had Obama not succeeded. This is a sad commentary about who the Republicans think deserves to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

It's time to put their trust in God

Too often, inspiration comes at the very end. With only 24 hours left to determine whether we diverge from our country's current course (Obama) or carry on in our democracy's death spiral (Mcpalin), I've been touched with "divine inspiration."

By now you are all familiar with republican ploys to suppress the vote...well, I've finally come up with one to work in the other direction. I would robocall, flyer and air the following campaign:

I think it is time for all evangelical christians to abandon the sinful and corrupt ballot box and put their faith in god! Instead of voting for McCain, you should pray for a mccain/palin victory! I challenge every evangelical to qualify and quantify the value of prayer by putting your faith in god over your faith in the american political process. If you choose to vote, then you can not call yourself a true christian any longer!

As I said, inspiration often comes too late and, in my case, is often very silly. I would love to give the Republicans a dose of their own medicine...but god has already punished them enough with a mcpalin presidential ticket that makes the last eight years look like an afternoon in eden.

Crock the Vote

UPDATED 10/31/08 6:30 AM - WITH NEW INFORMATION ON MD, VA, NH & IN.

So…we are the world’s greatest democracy? Then I sure as hell feel sorry for the folks in Lebanon, Georgia, the Ukraine and Iraq. In America, the so-called “world’s greatest democracy,” the populace is supposed to wield supreme power through the electoral process. Riiiiight. And if you believe that, you probably also believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim…and Kay Hagan is an atheist (but more on that later).

For those of you keeping score…and you should ALL be keeping score, I will provide information and links to stories of voter suppression, election shenanigans and other methods employed by our revered political parties to defraud Americans of their power and rights.

By the way - if you want to add to this list, or learn of something I've missed (and I'm sure there is a lot out there) feel free send me a note or leave a comment.

North Carolina
We start in North Carolina, home of Senator Elizabeth Dole. Lizzy is currently running an ad that would make Lee Atwater blush. In it, she accuses her opponent, Kay Hagan, of being a godless atheist (isn’t that redundant?). It is one of the ugliest ads I’ve seen…and, as you probably expect, completely off base. Hagan, as it turns out, is an elder at her Presbyterian church, in addition to being a Sunday school teacher. Liz Dole should be ashamed.

As for the election, some are predicting that as many as 100,000 voters in NC can expect to be disenfranchised due to confusing ballots…and legal maneuvering by the RNC. If you vote for a straight party line, your ballot automatically precludes you from choosing a president. That must me done separately. Unfortunately for the elderly, poor and new voters…this information is not being widely publicized. And instead of making it easy for Americans to vote…North Carolina is doing their best to exclude citizens from the process. The problem also occurred in 2004…so this is not some new development. It just happened to work in the Republican’s favor then…and they hope that it will again this year.

Colorado
In Colorado, more than 30,000 voters have been illegally purged by republican Secretary of State Mike Coffman. A suit was filed against Coffman that claims voters have been removed from the rolls based on a faulty system for identifying illegitimate voters, and within 90 days of the election -- both of which violate the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Florida
Republican secretary of state Kurt Browning has enacted a scheme to reject voter registration applications that failed to pass an overly rigid computer match test. The system disqualifies voters based on nothing more than a missing middle initial on their voter form. In EARLY VOTING alone, more than 12,000 voters have been prevented from casting a ballot.

A man in Florida is posing as a Democratic volunteer for a congressional candidate, in reality he is a consultant of the republican incumbent, he is taking ballots from Democrats and promising to deliver them. Guess what? Those ballots are now harder to find than Jimmy Hoffa.

Indiana
The state GOP sued to shut down early voting centers in predominantly black cities in the northern part of the state.

Furthermore, the republican mayor's office in Indianapolis has moved 31 voting locations after learning that Obama had a clear lead in local polling. He has made no effort to notify citizens about the changes.

Maryland
The Washington Post obtained instructions from the GOP on how to intimidate both voters and election officials:

"A recently distributed guide for Republican poll watchers in Maryland spells out how to aggressively challenge the credentials of voters and urges these volunteers to tell election judges they could face jail time if a challenge is ignored."

Just let them try to challenge my vote.

Michigan
Ever heard of voter caging? Neither had I, until this election. But in Michigan it turns out that republicans are going after victims of the housing crisis and a horrible economy…trying to purge them from voter rolls.

Montana
Republicans challenged the eligibility of 6,000 people in democratic-leaning counties, based on discrepancies in their addresses. After it emerged that one of the challenged voters was a World War II veteran and another a member of the Army Reserve about to ship out to Kuwait, the move was condemned by Montana republicans. The challenge was ultimately withdrawn and the man behind, it, Jacob Eaton, the GOP’s executive director, quit.

New Hampshire
I may just have to move to New Hampshire! They have made it a Class B felony to suppress votes. I guess they mean it when they say "Live free, or die!"

New Mexico
New Mexico republicans held a press conference to release the names of ten voters it alleged to have voted fraudulently in the June Democratic primary. ACORN helped establish that the voters, almost all Hispanic, were in fact legitimate. As it turns out, GOP lawyer Pat Rogers hired a private investigator who intimidated some of the voters by going to their homes to question them about their voting status. Rogers, the private investigator and the state party are now being sued for voter intimidation by several voting-rights groups.

Let us not forget that New Mexico is the home of David Iglesias, the republican states attorney who lost his job for not following republican mandates to bring baseless charges of voter fraud in 2004. It is well documented in his book, In Justice. Here’s more about Pat Rogers and his role in the firing of Iglesias.

Ohio
Well documented by Robert F. Kennedy and others for the nefarious actions of the RNC in 2004, Ohio will certainly be a battleground state in more than one sense. Republicans are already mobilizing to challenge the legitimacy of Democratic voters. Hopefully this time around the Democrats will be better prepared.

Pennsylvania
More legal shenanigans. The state GOP is suing to throw out more than 140,000 registrations collected by ACORN. You might remember them from John McCain’s sober warning that they might represent the greatest threat ever known to democracy? Yeah, right. Lest we all forget…it’s only VOTER fraud when someone actually tries to vote illegally. And it is well documented that this is an infinitesimal proportion of votes actually cast. The republicans’ hope to through out hundreds of thousands of legitimate registrations…in order to catch the one or two that might sneak through.

Virginia
This one would be funny…if there weren’t so many gullible people in America. A flier is being circulated advising Democrats to vote on November 5th. All those pesky new registrants have created such havoc, that election officials have decided that Republicans will vote, as planned, on the 4th…but Democrats will have the luxury of an added day. Oddly enough, I got several e-mails to this effect in both of the last two elections. I guess they confused enough people that Republicans decided to try it again this year.

On a more serious note, the NY Times is reporting that GOP election officials are trying to intimidate students from voting in Virginia (where they are attending college). The GOP release warned that students could no longer be claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns, a statement the Internal Revenue Service says is incorrect, and could lose scholarships or coverage under their parents’ car and health insurance. Neither claim is true - but that isn't stopping the GOP from trying to suppress votes in a State that is seen as crucial to a McCain victory.

Here is an article from 2006 on republican tactics in the old dominion, lest you think these shenanigans are restricted solely to this election.

West Virginia
This is the one that keeps me up at night. Electronic voting that can be easily manipulated by most computer geeks with a GED and an axe to grind. In WV, voters selected Barack Obama, only to have their vote flipped to John McCain. Pollsters comforted them by saying, “don’t worry…I’m sure your vote was counted.” But that is cold comfort for someone already burned in 2000 (Florida) and 2004 (Ohio). This is one on which to keep an eye…because the power isn’t in how many votes are cast, but who counts them (and how).

Wisconsin
After failing in an attempt to purge new voter registrations, republican attorney general J.B. Van Hollen announced the formation of a "voter fraud task force" which involves stationing 50 state prosecutors and other law-enforcement agents at the polls on election day. This is clearly a move to intimidate voters. Is that what our democracy is all about???

Believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg. This doesn’t even include the restrictive voter ID laws and other tactics employed by the ironically named “American center for voting rights.” It doesn't include Diebold - whose machines (and political leanings) are still very much in play EIGHT years after they helped to steal the election in Florida.

I’ll update this as more news trickles in…but there is SO much out there already…it could turn into a full time job. And frankly, the more it piles up, the more depressed I get. And the more sure I am that Republicans will stoop to anything to maintain power. Even if it means putting our democracy into a meat grinder.

Other articles of note:
From the Brennan Center for Justice, a paper on voter caging.
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune, an article on voter suppression.
From the Daily Nation another article on voter suppression.

A New Hope?

In last Sunday's New York Times, Frank Rich wrote an apologia for male, white voters entitled, "In defense of white Americans." In it, he asserts that the media, not reality, is the fuel that propels fears of the Bradley Effect redux. He also asserts that race will not play as much of a factor as many expect...or in McPalin's case, hope.

While I hope the preponderance of male, white Americans will put what's right before what's white, I'm neither as confident nor as optimistic as Rich. He seems to think that the McPalin gambit of pandering to racist fears will backfire. I hope so, because the Republicans have bet all their chips on the race card. But what we've seen from republican politics in the Karl Rove era is that fear is the most frequently used arrow in the republican quiver, and they've used it effectively.

With all respect to Frank Rich, I think he is being very naive. Just because they aren't wearing sheets and burning crosses at McPalin rallies, it doesn't mean they have purged the fear and hatred that undermines much of what is good about our society and our democracy (inclusiveness). You don't even have to listen very closely to pick up on the not-so-subtle language of the us/them racist argument. It's Michelle Bachman accusing Obama of being "un-american"; it's Sarah Palin calling red states "real america" and "pro american"; it's Nancy Pfotenhauer calling southern Virginia, the "real Virginia." At every level, republican discourse is built on divisiveness, fear and hatred. I hope I'm wrong, but Frank Rich, I'm afraid, underestimates the power of the dark side.

He's John McCain...and he approves these messages

When the rats desert the sinking ship, the ship's captain is supposed to go down with dignity. Instead, John McCain is promulgating a war of fear and hatred designed to portray Barack Obama as a friend to terrorists, among other things.

It is probably unfair to characterize as rats Bill Kristol, Peggy Noonan, Christopher Buckley, The Chicago Tribune, Colin Powell and the dozens of thoughtful republicans who have come to repudiate the strategies and tactics of John McCain. Who could blame them? At a time when this country is in dire straits and in dire need, McCain has employed the same divisive tactics used against him in the 2000 elections...and against Kerry in the 2004 race. McCain has even gone so far as to hire the same people who spread lies and attacked his character...to do the same to Barack Obama.

McCain vehemently asserted in the last presidential debate that he would reject the lies and hatred so frequently seen in, among other places, Sarah Palin rallies. But, sadly, that appears to be lip service. As his campaign continues to sink, so do McCain's judgement, temperament and ethics. He is John McCain. And he will say or do anything to get elected. No matter how much it damages the country and his hard-earned reputation.

Politics on Ice

Sarah Palin might be the world's best known "hockey mom" - but Philadelphia hockey fans welcomed her with a chorus of boos when the wannabee VP dropped the puck to open the Flyers' season.

Even pimping her daughter "Piper" in a Flyer's jersey wasn't enough to stave off the boos.

This carefully orchestrated event took place at the Wachovia Center, and I suppose there is some irony in that the corporate sponsor for the stadium is a failing bank. But this wasn't just a ploy by Palin to tap into her target demographic (all white and, in Philly's case, none too bright); this was a feather in the cap for Flyer's owner Ed Snyder. Snyder is a generous source of money for the Republican party...and I'm sure he's going to get his money's worth if Palin is elected. Judging by the cronyism Palin employs in Alaska...he'll probably wind up as the Fed Chairman...or a Supreme Court judge.

So...when she's not exhorting her deranged supporters to direct death threats and racial epithets at Barack Obama...she is sullying the reputation of my favorite sport. I'm just glad she didn't try this stunt at a Washington Capitals game. It's made me a firm believer that there should not only be a separation of church and state, but of church and state and pucks.

Joe Lieberman's Day of Atonement

As we sit on the cusp of Yom Kippur, I am obliged to write about America's best-known Jewish politician: Joe Lieberman.

I find it hard to reconcile that Lieberman's name once graced the bumper of my car. There is no resemblance between the man who once shared the ticket with Al Gore, and the one who now stumps for republican parvenu Sarah Palin.

Over the last six years, Lieberman has shown a mule-like devotion to the ill-conceived and totally unnecessary war in Iraq. It nearly cost Lieberman his seat in the Senate, and it led to a split with the one party that thought enough of him to put him on the ticket. But as to the war in Iraq, he not only refuses to admit that the invasion was a mistake, he promulgates the Republican "big lie" about the surge. News flash, the surge is only "working" because we've spent hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars bribing Sunni war lords to ease up on insurrectionist activities.

Furthermore, for someone who interjects "faith" into much of his public oratory...Lieberman seems ignorantly detached from the devastation in human life that the war has caused. For someone who once embraced Jewish Orthodoxy, he seems unconcerned that the war in Iraq has given rise to Iran, the biggest threat to Israel in the region. He not only needs to atone for his blind support of the war, but for the damage it is doing to Israel's security.

While Lieberman's paramour, John McCain, has transformed into a tool of the extreme right-wing base of the republican party, Joe himself has morphed into a tool for John McCain. Not only did he get a prime speaking slot at McCain's coming out party, he was on the short list for VP choices (as if the Christian neocons would let that happen). If that wasn't degrading enough, now Lieberman is out stumping for Sarah Palin. He actually told a Florida crowd: "With your help--and God's help--(Sarah Palin) will be the next vice president of the United States." Is there no end to the shame he will bring upon himself? With God's help? I can only assume he is now praying to a different God.

Joe Lieberman is a sellout to this country and to his faith. He is a collaborator, plain and simple, and it is time for Lieberman to atone for his blind devotion to this war and the Christian zealots that comprise the Republican base. I fervently hope that Joe has a "come to Jesus" moment during Yom Kippur...and that he somehow atones for whatever it is that has driven him to such an extreme.

Making sense of the VP debates

Those anxiously waiting for Sarah Palin to implode in last night's vice presidential debate were probably disappointed with the outcome. The debate resembled a conversation between a human, and a doll with a pull string in its back. No matter what you asked the doll, the answer you got was pre-programmed, and invariably a non sequitor to the question at hand.

When not displaying the cutesy, Barbie-like characteristics evinced in the Tina Fey SNL skits, Palin lapsed into "Chucky" mode, often trying to skewer the clearly ill-at-ease Joe Biden. Some will view the debate as highly successful for the former almost Miss Alaska. Others will cringe at the prospect of our country in the hands of one so utterly clueless about the grave issues we face as a nation.

Those who went into this debate republicans, likely came away breathing a sigh of relief, and with renewed enthusiasm. She didn't have a melt-down or lapse into stupefied silence. But let's not kid ourselves, Sarah Palin's inclusion on the Republican ticket is nothing short of gendermandering. It is transparent ruse to transform the political landscape by manipulating a key demographic, all the while appeasing the fanatic zealots that constitute the base. If they were so sure that Palin were a qualified candidate, the McCain camp wouldn't have insisted that the format of the debate be altered to prevent the moderator from asking follow-up questions. After the Couric debacle, they stripped the moderator of the ability to hold Palin accountable for actually answering the questions. I guess they were worried that it would distract the Alaskan parvenu from the talking points which she worked so hard to memorize during the last few weeks.

It's no secret that Joe Biden didn't score a unanimous knock-out victory. But Democrats should take heart that Palin was unable to engage on any single issue of substance, proving incapable of defending accusations against McCain on matters of the economy or the war in Iraq. We can all hope the media will pick up on Palin's assertion that she wants to explore the constitutional means by which she can expand the vice president's role in the legislative arena. After eight years of Dick Cheney...that is the last thing we need. Especially from one so ideologically linked to the reigning sith lord.

I think Palin lived up to her very meager expectations. The pull-string doll didn't implode. But the fact remains: the McCain-Palin ticket does not auger well for the fate of this country. Four more years of Bush/Cheney politics would be a disaster. Just saying that you are agents of "change", or that you are "fresh" or a "maverick" doesn't make it so. I thought Biden successfully challenged these misconceptions. Let's pray that Americans were paying attention to the facts last night...and not the winking, smirking marionette. I will try to take comfort in the words of a great Republican president: you can fool some of the people all of the time; and all of the people some of the time...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Tonight's the night...

All apologies to Rod Stewart, but one can only hope that it's "gonna be alright."

Tonight's debate HAS to be a decisive victory for Senator Joe Biden. Anything short of that will prolong the polarizing and logic-bereft back-and-forth over whether Palin is suited to be vice president. The simple truth is, she isn't.

Should it concern us that Palin is not able to name one single Supreme Court case? I was able to name six off the top of my head...my wife 5. That doesn't qualify us to be VP, nor does it disqualify Palin to be VP that she can't think of one. But given the crisis in American politics and in our economy, it's time we had smart people making executive decisions for a change. Eight years of letting the class clown run this country is enough. You wouldn't hire a girls' high school lacrosse assistant-coach to manage the Yankees. Why would you choose someone as ill-suited as Palin to potentially run the country?

Even the republicans know Palin isn't qualified, though 35% of them are afraid to admit it. And if Biden can't put her away, if he is too deferential and sensitive to her gender, if he worries too much about making her look "bad" - then we are going to be in for a long four weeks. Palin is doing a great job of making her self look bad every time she opens her mouth...but that is no reason for Joe to treat her with any less respect than he would a competent, male adversary. That is to say, to be a "street fighting man." (Again, apologies to Rod Stewart. And if you don't know who Rod Stewart is...follow me.)

My Proposal for Debt Relief

All this talk about bailing out wall street, insurance companies, banks, etc. has left a sour taste in many Americans' mouths. Therefore, I would like to propose the following debt relieve package:

Every American tax payer would be eligible to apply for up to $10 thousand in debt relief. This could be applied to the following costs: credit card debt, mortgages (home ownership), health care costs or education. Verification of the debt would be mandatory and the payments would be made directly to the institutions holding the debt. Tax paying Americans not in debt would receive $10 thousand in government bonds, with a ten to thirty year maturity date depending on age. Furthermore, households with dependent children under the age of 18 would receive an additional $5 thousand per child (up to two children...capped at $10 thousand). If the family does not qualify for debt relief, the dependent money would be applied to college funds in the states where they live.

Not only would this provide debt relief for millions of Americans who have suffered through difficult financial times, it would stimulate the economy and ensure remuneration to the companies in possession of the consumer debt. It would also stimulate families to invest in their children's education, secure home ownership and...it would all cost much less than the $700 billion bail out of wall street.

OK - on this last statement I'm not entirely sure...but on the surface it seems to be the case. I will leave it to you number crunchers to prove me wrong. Needless to say, this is somewhat tongue in cheek...I'm not an economist, nor do I play one on TV. The practicality of such a proposal is negligible...but it underscores my belief that social welfare is preferable to corporate welfare. If we are going to bail out business for making bad decisions, why not accord citizens the same?

Gotcha Journalism

John McCain and Sarah Palin must have put the squeeze on CBS News yesterday...because they were back front and center, in front of Katie Curick, making their case against (you guessed it) the liberal media. You see, it's the media's fault that Palin has become a laughing stock. It's not because she is an ill informed, unprepared, unequipped, right wing zealot and parvenu...it's because the big, bad liberal media makes fun of her that the world is crumbling all around us. That is sexism at its finest: rush to defend a woman from having to answer legitimate questions about her experience, policies and knowledge...because it makes her look bad. Sorry, if Palin can't stand the political heat, she should get back IN the kitchen. It's not "Gotcha Journalism" when they actually get you at something. That's called responsible journalism. Too bad we didn't have more of it in the run up to the invasion of Iraq.

And as for Democrats being responsible for this economic crisis? HA! You can trace it back to that lion of the Republican party, Ron Reagan. Was it not Ronnie who bailed out savings and loans (amid scandal)? Was it not Reagan caught up in a HUD scandal? A lobbyist scandal as well? Was it not McCain and his pro-business lobbyist cronies who pressed for so much deregulation that the government was ill prepared to deal with this disaster? Was it not Bush who appointed cronies and party loyalists instead of qualified individuals to sensitive posts? The Democrats indeed! Pelosi was 100% right to call out Bush and his administration for the last eight years of failure. If we don't condemn our past, we are doomed to repeat it.

Left Indent Leaks Results of Upcoming Vice Presidential Debate

Since John McCain's PR crew are probably already hard at work writing their review of this Thursday's throw-down between Biden and Palin, I thought I'd do likewise and write my review a bit early as well. Foresight is, after all, 20/20:

--------------------------------------

McCain spokesman, Tucker Bounds, was visibly shaken when republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin spilled water on the notepad computer stealthily concealed below the ledge of her podium. The computer, squirreled out of sight of debate moderator Glenn Eiffel, was to provide the Alaskan governor with a lifeline to better informed advisers in the wings. They hadn't counted on Palin using the computer as a coaster, and subsequently spilling the contents onto the keyboard. Without the benefit of input from her handlers, the political parvenu and one-time almost Miss Alaska was left to fend for herself. She was as defenseless, intellectually, as a moose being stalked by hunters in a helicopter “sporting” high powered rifles.

When the dust settled, the spin began. A lachrymal Mr. Bounds cited the debate as "a victory for all women, and for all Americans who hunger for a change from the Bush-Obama doctrine, and a foreign policy that has crippled our nation’s ability to achieve success in God’s mission in Iraq."

The liberal media were not as forgiving, often referring to Palin as a parrot because of her tendency to repeat the same phrases over and over and over again. "In the end," said Joe Biden, "the American voter will have to decide who is better qualified to be president in the event they are called upon to do so: I'm a senior senator who has served in public office longer than John McCain," said the confident fist son of Pennsylvania. "I've never done time in prison, like John. And I'm a long-time member and current chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Who are you going to pick, me or the hockey mom whose daughter can't keep her pants on?"

A Fox poll of undecided and clearly unbiased voters voted nine to one that experience in politics and knowledge of the issues would only serve as a detriment to the next commander-in-chief-in-waiting.

And for those who really want a laugh...follow me!

McCain V Obama Round 1

If Obama's objective last night was to position himself as presidential, to appear knowledgeable about foreign policy...then I think it is "mission accomplished." If his goal was to link McCain inexorably to the republican party and their policies, Iraq and the economy, then I think it was a missed opportunity. Not through any fault of his own...but because everyone seemed focused on McCain's bellicose manner, and not on some of the key points made by Barack.

McCain did a good job of reminding everyone just how experienced he is. Like Magellan, he rattled off a laundry list of countries he'd visited, and people he'd met. But his vision was primarily rearward looking, including the ineveitable reminders about his "maverick" status and his POW experience. But Obama held his own, he was confident and knowledgeable. And he was forward looking.

I do think Obama missed an opportunity to hammer McCain on the economy...that's his Achilles heel. And when McCain started to go on about earmarks and corruption, Obama should have countered with "John, I will have to defer to your expertise on political corruption and greed...as a member of the Keating Five you have the experience in that field."

Highlights: Obama did a good job using John's words against him on Iraq: "we know where the wmd are", "we'll be treated as liberators", "there is no history of Sunni/Shia violence", etc. McCain attempted to deflect any criticism by suggesting that Obama opposed the surge. Obama countered adeptly with: "John, you talk like this war started in 2007. But it started in 2003."

As I said, McCain is VERY vulnerable on the economy. Obama needs to remind America that a month ago McCain said the fundamentals of our economy were sound. His chief financial advisor said this was a "mental recession" that we are a "nation of whiners." McCain recently said he wanted to tackle the health care issue in the exact same way that the Republicans have managed the banking and financing issues: more deregulation. He admitted to not knowing anything about the economy. He supports four billion dollars in tax cuts to oil companies. He wants to provide tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans...evoking what Bush senior dubbed "voodoo economics." On the economy, McCain has been out of step and dangerously wrong for quite some time.

Sure - McCain looked like a sour old man, condescending and dismissive. But that was a known quantity. I don't think that will hurt him much in the long run. I can't wait until the next debate...but In the meantime we will have an entertaining under card next week. Unless they have to postpone so Palin can save the world from witches.

McCain to Appear in Tonight's Debate

Well, after much false bravado and sad political posturing, John McCain has finally decided to put the country first, and appear in tonight's debate. I'm not going to call McCain a coward...but this isn't the first time he tried to dodge a debate against a superior foe: he once ditched a debate in California (2000) against the cretin from Crawford. Imagine how jittery he'll be going against someone who actually has a brain! I don't want to denigrate John McCain...he's suffered for our country. Let's just hope our country doesn't have to suffer because of him. He has made so many bad judgments throughout this campaign, his election would effectively guarantee four more years of...well...torture.

McCain gets the swiftboat treatment

I've long maintained that the Democrats must learn how to fight like the republicans (dirty, that is) in order to survive this election. Kerry took the high road when he refused to engage the distasteful and dishonest swiftboat veterans smear campaign. The high road doesn't work when you are pitted against those who believe that winning at any cost is the only objective, no matter how much damage it does to the country as a whole. I've also qualified this by saying if the democrats do to McCain what they neocons did to Kerry, there would be outrage from the right (and from the media). Well...now we will get our chance to see how everyone responds, as one of John McCain's fellow POWs warns that Jittery John doesn't have the right stuff to president. Follow me

Frankly, I don't believe this rises to the level of true swiftboating. This is just a rational first person account and opinion piece. It isn't a character assassination built on lies and cut-throat politics.

News Flash: John McCain Misses Episode of Golden Girls to Rush Back to Washington and Fix the Economy!!!

Wow. Does anyone with an IQ over 90 actually believe that John McCain is rushing back to Washington to deal with our failing economy? Hands up...I'd like to see you. John "I don't know anything about the economy" McCain has decided to suspend his campaign and rush home in a sad attempt to display some sort of ill-conceived quality that he perceives to be presidential, and to distract us from the fact that he absolutely is not (presidential). Let's face it, the reason he's suspending his campaign is because people (and the media) are finally waking up to the sobering assessment that McCain hasn't got a clue. His campaign, temporarily reinvigorated with Alaskan parvenu Sarah Palin, is back to the stultifying and rudderless disaster that it was prior to the Republican convention. And he is, once again, desperate. And desperate people often make bad decisions.

McCain has the worst voting record in the senate over the last year. He doesn't sit on the senate finance, banking committee and, hence, would not be privy to any discussions as such. He admits he knows nothing about the economy. He is taking heat because of his hiring of Rick Davis, his choice of Palin and the fact that his entire campaign is being run by lobbyists and Karl Rove clones. He is embarrassed because he has said during his campaign that he wants to treat the health care sector like we have the housing sector (deregulation). He isn't returning to Washington on some noble mission to "put America first." He is scared to the point of desperation.

A president needs to be able to deal with multiple calamities simultaneously (i.e. his campaign and the economy). His claim about having to rush off to Washington was most astutely and humorously illustrated by David Letterman in an article in today's Post:

"...Republican presidential candidate John McCain bailed from David Letterman's show only about two hours before it was to tape, calling the late-night host personally to tell him the economy was in such a state of crisis he was suspending his campaign and had to leave immediately to get back to Washington., Letterman got word that McCain -- who had announced his candidacy on "The Late Show" way back when -- did not, in fact, rush back to the capital. Instead, he plugged his decision to suspend his campaign, bail on Friday night's debate with Democratic nominee Barack Obama and race back to Washington over on CBS's evening newscast. He was, in fact, taping an interview with Katie Couric.

Letterman had his producers throw up the CBS in-house video feed, showing McCain getting makeup applied to his face before the interview taping. "Now, he doesn't seem to be racing back to the airport, does he?" asked Letterman."

Read full story here.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence can see through McCain's feeble and dishonest excuses, and these aren't the characteristics we need in a president. Speaking on behalf of my fellow Washingtonians and someone feeling the pain of our economic crisis, please, stay away. With your judgment, the economy is a lot better off without you meddling in it.

Oh no she didn't! Jo Ann Davidson evokes racial stereotype...

This morning, in an interview with XM's POTUS 08, Republican National Committee co-chair Jo Ann Davidson had the following to say about this Friday's presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama: "Knowing how the media responds, they will declare Obama the winner because he's articulate."

Oh no she didn't! Excuse me, does that mean, by comparison, that McCain isn't articulate? Or is she simply dredging up old stereotypes? My guess is she - at the behest of Steve Schmidt - is employing the same tactic that Rove did for Bush eight years ago: set the bar much higher for your opponent at the outset, so that even the most doltish buffoon can be declared a winner simply by meeting the most meager of expectations. "Articulate"? Wow. I guess if Obama challenges McCain during the debate she will next call him uppity. (BTW - Davidson is also the astute person who introduced Republican parvenue Sarah Palin as Sarah Pawlenty at the Republican Convention.)

If McCain has expectations for actually winning the debates based on the strength of his speaking skills, he's going to have to get in a lot more practice between now and Friday. Do you realize that, prior to yesterday, the "straight talk express" had not provided access to the media since August 21st? Yesterday he finally deigned to take questions during a stop in Michigan. He gave the media all of seven minutes of his precious time.

I can understand why he is reluctant to wax loquacious with the media. They are certain to ask him about Rick Davis. Davis is a McCain campaign manager whose company worked on behalf of Freddie Mac to shield the them from government oversight and regulations. We've all seen how well that worked out. Davis recently denied having ANY contact with Freddie Mac since 2006. I guess he forgot to mention that the company he owns has been on a retainer from Freddie Mac for years. It's another example of the kind of lobbyists and liars who McCain surrounds himself with...and just how similar he is to Bush.

Jo Ann Davidsons' feckless and desultory assertion about Obama's articulatory skills notwithstanding, let's hope that the normally sequacious American voter is able to see through John McCain's inimical obfuscations. Unfortunately, I'm not betting on it. Because it seems we, as a country, now view the ability to speak well in a pejorative light. What chance does Obama have against a fumble-mouthed man of the common folk (with his seven houses) such as John "straight talk" McCain?

Bush-o-nomics 101

I am not an economist. And like John McCain, I don’t know much about economics. So that makes both of us ideally suited not to be president. What I do know is this: our economy is in the toilet. And I’m not talking about the comfy, porcelain refuge where we get most of our reading done. I’m talking about the kind of unforgettable, hell-hole of a toilet indelibly imprinted on my brain from the movie trainspotting.

I also know this: our economic catastrophe happened under the Republican’s watch, as a result of (in part) Republican lust for deregulation. Yes there is plenty of blame to go around…not least of which for the many ceo’s, boards, speculators and executives who drove the financial sector into a ditch. But I’ll be damned if I am going to sit by quietly while my tax dollars bail out these failed corporations, while pirate ceo’s get off with multi-million dollar golden parachutes.

Whatever happened to the republican mantra of letting the market take care of itself? What good will it do to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to keep these companies treading water until they ultimately sink? Eventually the chickens will come home to roost. Why on earth should you or I have to bail them out? Are they bailing me out? As I recall, Bush made it much harder for individuals to file for bankruptcy…protecting credit card corporations by keep their prey on high-interest hooks. But big business? Suddenly a free market economy doesn’t matter. Now it’s all about intervention.

I realize that investors will suffer if many of these companies go under. But that is a risk that one takes by playing the market. Thank god Bush didn’t get his way about social security. Just another failed economic strategy that McCain embraces. So, if you want to go on living in an America where the economy is about as stable as John McCain’s judgment…by all means…vote for him and Palin. Like I said, I don't know much about economics...and maybe I should just stick to railing against the administration about those things which make more sense to me. But I do know this for certain: if you want to live like a Republican, you’d better vote for a democrat.

It's the Melanin, Stupid

The republicans are so happy that no one is talking about issues. No one is pointing out that under the last eight years of republican rule we are worse off in almost every critical category: national security, economy, unemployment, world standing, poverty, failing businesses, the war on terror. You name it, Bush and the republicans have f*cked it up.

But like I said - no one is taking issues seriously. Why? Because this race boils down to one thing, and one thing only: race. I offer this example: Imagine if Michelle Obama appeared on stage at the Democratic National Convention with a 17-year-old un-married, pregnant teenager daughter. Republicans would not embrace her as an example of a "typical American story." They would accuse the Obama's of not respecting christian, family values. There would be accusations of irresponsibility. There would be innuendo about racial stereotypes. You don't think race matters? Then you don't remember how effectively McCain was smeared by his now employees during the 2000 election.

It's all about the melanin and the politics of racial hypocricy. And that is going to be the primary factor that determines this election.

Not convinced...here are a few more examples:

1)
If you are black and spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13, and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new African American voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of nearly 13 million people, sponsoring 131bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, republicans call you inexperienced

If you are white and spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, republicans claim you have the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket.

2)
If you are a black democratic candidate who is popular with millions of people you are a shallow celebrity or a "rock star."

If you are a similarly popular white republican candidate you are seen as the savior of the party.

3)
If you are a black christian man, with a non-occidental name...you are called a Muslim.

If you are white, and you lie consistently; if you break your marriage vows by cheating on your wife, as did John McCain, you are nonetheless still called a christian.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sure - there are a lot of people out there who wouldn't vote for jesus christ if he ran as a Democrat - because their faith is utterly politicized. But given the abject failures of the last eight years under republican rule, given that McCain surrounds himself with lobbyists, given that he admits to knowing nothing about the economy at a time of economic crisis, given that his running mate is less qualified to be vice president than Marion Berry...there is only one thing that can prevent a democratic victory this year. Too many fence-sitting, latently racist Americans are afraid that once they vote black, there will be no turning back.

The Democrats are right to chant the mantras of "it's the economy, stupid" or "it's the corruption, the war, the lies, the cronyism, the political vindictiveness, the unemployment, the bailouts, the housing crisis...stupid!" But at the end of the day, it's all about the melanin. And issues have to ride in the back of the bus during this election.

Palin might be a neocon's dream...but she gives me nightmares

First off, let me apologize for the length of this post...and the array of links to external sites. But sometimes the story is best pieced together with diverse sources. Second, and more to the point, let me say that Sarah Palin’s complete and utter lack of experience is not the primary reason why the image of her in the White House makes me break out in a cold sweat. But before I get to what really scares me – let’s just take another look at what the almost-Miss-Alaska brings to the table.

Ok, so she is the 20-month-old Governor of a state that has a population roughly equal to the District of Columbia…excluding most of the suburbs. She controlled the purse strings of a state that has a smaller budget than the District of Columbia. Of course her state received more earmark dollars per capita than any State in the Union (a union she putatively wanted to leave as a member of the Alaska Independence Party). She is the de-facto head of the Alaska State Guard – but hasn’t got a clue as to what the Bush doctrine (of preemptive warfare) is and the impact it would have on her charges (who she thinks are on a mission from god, no less). Oh, she was also mayor of a city with a smaller population than my voting district. By these standards, Marion Berry is a more experienced potential vp candidate than she is. Except Marion has that scurrilous history that the republicans would surely pounce on...he was a community activist! (Gasp!)

And while we are at it…long before John McCain was warning us that the civilized world (of which he no longer appears to be a part) would come to an end if the inexperienced Barack Obama were elected president, this is what he had to say about ANOTHER Governor & ex-mayor:

“I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a short period of time. For 20-some years…I led. I didn't manage for profit…” – Transcript of John McCain addressing Mitt Romney in the Oct. 2007 Republican debates.

So…almost a year ago he eviscerated Romney for being inexperienced. In case you are wondering, he was governor for four years. Palin? 20 months. He also nearly defeated senator-for-life Ted Kennedy in 1994…no small feat. He graduated Cum Laude from Harvard Law and was a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School. Yet, he was considered not ready to lead, by McCain. I guess Romney, unlike Palin, didn’t do well in the swimsuit competition.

But I’m not here to simply enumerate all of the reasons I believe Palin is not qualified to be Vice President. I’m here to warn that she represents all that is bad about George Bush. Namely: She is personally and politically vindictive. She prefers cronyism and loyalty over competence. She is secretive in an era where government demands to be more transparent. She promises to move the country even further to the extreme right, as she garners approval from the most fanatic of conservatives. She isn’t very bright. And she lies. Although, to be fair, she lies with the best of liars. (There is, in fact, a McCain fact checker website that is up to 51 lies...and counting.)

The prospect of having to endure four more years of the same miserable, failed policies of the worst president in the history of this nation scares the sh*t out of me. Unfortunately, I think that America is still not yet far enough removed from the days of segregation, anti-miscegenation and, yes, even slavery to come to grips with a black president. That’s a tragedy, because Obama comes at a time when we need to pay more than passing lip service to change. Not only is Obama qualified, he is absolutely the best person for the job. McCain & Palin? They are the stuff of which bad dreams are made.

I’m Not Buying What John McCain Is Selling

John McCain has become a tool of the republican strategy of political obfuscation and mendacity. You know this, right? I think Bush is trying to turn it into a Cabinet position. These are the people - Karl Rove and his scion, Steve Schmidt - so adept at selling the “Big Lie.”

The "Big Lie" is a spurious talking point sung ad nauseum by the republican chorus. Repeated often enough, easily manipulated and weak-minded people eventually end up repeating it as fact...you know, like WMD's and a link between Iraq and 9/11? But I digress.

This week’s “Big Lie” involves the birth of those two maverick superheroes of political reform: the Agents of Change! They are better known as septuagenarian John McCain and his trusty sidekick, Sarah Palin. You might not know it to look at them, but Steve Schmidt would have you believe that McCain and Palin are here (on a mission from god) to wipeout the kind of establishment politics that have brought this country so low over the past eight years. And who is their arch villain? Who personifies the evil, Washington “status quo”? You guessed it. Barack Obama.

You see, first McCain tried to sell the idea that Obama didn’t have enough experience to be president. Clearly…we are all better served with someone older. Much older. Regardless of the fact that McCain shows the kind of judgment usually reserved for hookers in need of a fix (or in his case, a drowning man in need of a conservative, feminine life preserver). Schmidt and McCain tried to sell the concept that Obama was a neophyte. He couldn’t be trusted to run the country…because he was so new to Washington politics that he wouldn’t have the sense to answer the phone at 3:00 in the morning when all of Western civilization was crumbling around him. But that didn’t get the kind of traction they needed, and it was confounded by the choice of Sarah Palin as a partner in crime (she, of so little experience in politics that she doesn’t even know what the Vice President does for a living).

So enter the new “Big Lie” which paints Obama as the status quo. Excuse me? What kind of BS are the Republicans trying to sell now? If anyone is the status quo, it’s John McCain – who sounds so much like the Crawford Cowboy these days it would be impossible to tell them apart (except for the liver spots). Well, I’m not buying this or any of John McCain and Steve Schmidt's “Big Lies” because the Big Lies distract everyone from the little inconvenient truths…also known as “issues.”

Can Republicans be Trusted?

I’m finding it increasingly difficult to carry on calm conversation when it comes to the current election, and I think I’ve nailed it down to issues of trust. I don’t trust Republicans. No, not because of Watergate. No, not Iran Contra either. It’s not even the Abramovs, Haliburtons and Larry Craigs that are causing me anguish. It’s the common, everyday republican voter. You know? The ones that gave us a second term of the worst president in the history of this country. Well, they are about to extend their disastrous track record for a third straight election.

Republican puppet masters are secretly breathing a sigh of relief now that the media and voting public have something else to talk about…other than the issues. Their great, white, double X chromosome savior, Sarah Palin, was unveiled last night at the republican convention. And to her credit, she delivered her speech with aplomb. But to her detriment, it represented the same half-truths and character assassinations that are the hallmark of the current administration. She gets high marks for style – but a near zero for substance. She didn’t touch on any major issue facing this country today. But despite the lack of substance (which defines her political life), Palin’s vitriolic and often factually inaccurate speech left thousands of pasty white faces on the convention floor writhing in an orgiastic dance of self congratulation that would make Saint Vitus blush.

Were the Republicans listening? Can they be serious about making this hanging chad of a politician their vice president? Like drowning men, Republicans have glommed onto Palin as if she were a life preserver. So desperate to rekindle the stultifying campaign of John McCain that they grabbed the first pretty face that came along. How can the Republicans be trusted? They are desperate, and desperate people tend to make bad choices. How can we trust Republicans with the responsibility of making an educated decision on election day? They are the same ones responsible for giving us Bush and Cheney. TWICE! And you can bet your bottom dollar they haven't learned from their mistakes.

A study in contrasts

Everyone is in a tizzy today, because John McCain's new choice for VP is about to become a grandmother at 44. Sadly, everyone is focusing on the irony that this staunchly conservative, family values woman has a barely legal daughter, unwed...and five months with child. It's sad because it has taken the spotlight off of the truly unnerving prospect of having Sarah Palin one missed heartbeat away from the presidency: She is so utterly not qualified for the job that I would almost rather see Bush and Cheney back for a third term than her and McCain. Almost. Let's hope it does not come to that.

McCain (and Hillary) introduced the "experience" factor as an element in this race in order to denigrate Barack Obama. McCain is now hard pressed to make this case. Instead the focus is now on judgement - or in McCain's case, a lack thereof. Because this isn't just a "maverick" move, or simple pandering, it shows a dangerous lack of judgement by a man who now seems motivated to win at any cost, no matter the damage it causes this country.

There is a stark contrast between the kind of inexperience evinced by Ms. Palin and the kind that John McCain would have had you believe is an impediment for Barack Obama. First: Sarah Palin has barely been outside of the country. She only received her very first passport LAST YEAR! And only then because she was on a compulsory trip for her office. Do we really need another George W. Bush in the White House...another person with a dearth of international experience? Both Obama and Biden have her beat on this count. Second: Last year (again with an !) she was asked about the situation in Iraq. Her answer? She didn't know much about it. (In the voice of John Cleese - flummoxed by inane answers in a cheese shop): Don't know much about it??!! It's the single most important issue in the world today! This is amazing to me...and an enormous red flag. Obama and Biden have her beat on this issue. Third: Palin does not adequately address McCain's economic shortcomings. The good folks at Enron probably have the McCain/Palin ticket beat. Fourth: Her stands on critical issues are so far to the right...that she makes McCain look like George McGovern. She is against stem cell research, against gay rights, against abortion under any circumstance whatsoever, pro NRA, pro-drilling in Anwar, etc. Fifth: She was mayor of a small town...and has only been governor for 20 months. Not exactly the kind of resume one finds for Vice President of the United States. Everyone has her beat here as well. There are also minor scandals to which she is linked...and though minor, are far more tangible than the accusations emanating from the Rove/Schmidt-fueled McCain camp about Obama's "link" to the weathermen, etc.

I think it will be very difficult for McCain to try and draw the contrasts he originally envisioned between his ticket, and the democratic ticket. The Dems now have the edge in experience on virtually every front. Maybe McCain can try again to contrast Obama with middle America by again labeling him as a "rock star." Well...I'll tell you this: I'd rather have a rock star than a fossile any day. Especially a fossile that confuses bad judgement with being a maverick.

Whom will John McCain pick for VP?

Well, this item will have a very short shelf life, as Senator John McCain is on the precipice of selecting his running mate. Whomever he picks, it would serve them well if they have experience working in assisted living facilities for older people.

But it makes me wonder…who will the king panderer pick? My personal choice is former Miss Alaska runner up, Gov. Sarah Palin. It’s not that I like her politics, per se, but she is pretty hot (for a republican politician). And she is known as a “hockey mom.” But if Jittery John does pick her…I’ll bet that Cindy will have something to say about it. McCain did, after all, dump his previous wife for a younger model…and he does seem to be wedded to the ideas of the past.

Then again, McCain is such a tool that he should move his campaign headquarters to a Home Depot. And being a tool, he’ll probably go the tried and tested route of pandering to the neoconservative-nutjob branch of the republican party…rather than the women. The neocons are far more easily duped than women…women would see through the pick as a blatant attempt to court Hillary supporters.

UPDATE! Well it looks like I was right. He chose Palin. She has a lot of compelling stories that will appeal to a variety of key conservative audiences. But she is so inexperienced that when asked about the Iraq war LAST YEAR she said she didn't really know much about it. My five-year-old son is better educated on the key issues facing this country than is Sarah Palin. John McCain has evinced such bad judgement by making a pick that was done solely to pander to disenfranchised Hillary supporters, that he should be drubbed soundly by the media. But Teflon John is sure to get a pass, as the male dominated media types drool all over themselves at the prospect of spending time with a beauty queen also ran. The Republican spin doctors will try to convince us that she's readly to lead the country, should McCain eat one too many Big Macs and punch his ticket to neocon heaven. But the prospect of having Sarah Palin as president is just about the most frightening thing facing this country today, because of her extremist beliefs on key social issues and an eye-popping lack of understanding about one of the single most important issues in the world today (Iraq). McCain may have found a moll - but hopefully Americans can get over the fact that she's a relatively handsome woman and see her for what she really is: a dangerous distraction.

It was 20 years ago today that Lee Atwater taught the band to play

Lee Atwater was famous for many things. He was a restaurateur, an avid blues and jazz record collector (which is how I came to know him), and he was the architect and progenitor of the kind of character assassination politics that has come to define the Republican party over the last 20 years.

Karl Rove is Atwater’s most famous and successful protégé. In addition to carrying on the tradition of personal-attack politics, Rove also managed to establish a nefarious empire within the executive office that is rivaled only by Dick Cheney for the breadth of its reach and the depths to which it will sink in the name of a neoconservative supremacy.

John “Sidekick” McCain is continuing the Atwater/Rove legacy through Steve Schmidt – a Rove minion. McCain believes he must employ the same hateful, dishonest tactics, as did the two Bushes before him, to win the election. God forbid McCain would actually try to win on the issues. God forbid he would eschew the Atwater/Rove/Schmidt continuum since he himself was once a victim of Rove’s dishonest attacks. But what am I saying? This is a guy who spent years being tortured in a prison…and now condones America’s policy of torture. (For the record, he voted against it before he voted for it!) Well – I guess if John hadn’t been taken prisoner and tortured, he never would have become the iconic figure he indisputably is. Maybe he sees torture as a means to an end? Maybe some poor tortured Muslim will soon also reach the pinnacle of his personal political aspiration thanks to McCain’s pro-torture policy. But I digress.

Schmidt’s job is simple: sell the big lies! He will preside over the neocon smear campaign that will link Obama to everything from the Weathermen Underground, to being a “registered” Muslim. And the unified neocon Greek chorus will repeat these lies ad nauseum until people begin to accept them as fact.

While I find the conduct of the Atwater-Rove-Schmidt continuum to be utterly reprehensible and difficult to stomach – I am equally disappointed and mystified at the democrats’ tepid response to the vicious below-the-belt blows they’ve suffered over the last two elections (especially the swiftboating of John Kerry). Only James Carville seems to understand that if you get in the ring with a dirty fighter – you have to fight dirtier and smarter in order to win (it’s the Chicago way, after all). Crying out for the Marquis of Queensbury rules while your opponent is emasculating you doesn’t cut it. I’d hoped the Democrats would be better prepared to take the offensive during the ‘08 convention. But for the most part, the Democratic convention has been a giant love in. Newsflash: this isn’t the 60’s. The Dems are whistling past the graveyard if they think they can continue to take the highroad against the hooligan tactics of Karl Rove, Steve Schmidt and John McCain. To date, only John Kerry seems to have taken any serious shots at McCain. And his speech wasn’t even covered by many of the news networks!

John McCain offers no solutions. John McCain only offers more of the same shrill, hateful personal attacks that have turned so many Americans away from our democratic process. The question is this: What are the democrats prepared to do about it? If I were advising them – I’d insist that they focus on the key messages with the same tenacity as their neocon counterparts. Every time a democrat talks about the election he or she should remind their audience that the last eight years have brought us Enron, Attorney-gate, Plame-gate, the Iraq war, 9/11, record gas prices and record oil-company profits, Katrina, torture, Abu-Graib, a squandered budget surplus, a failing economy, an erosion of our stature in the world, unchecked aggression by Russia, the rise of Iran in the Middle East, a nuclear arms program in N. Korea, Halliburton and no-bid contracts for Bush/Cheney cronies, Guantanamo, waterboarding, cronyism personified by Harriet Meyers, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, Larry Craig, the mortgage crisis, bank failures, airline failures, illegal wiretapping, no progress on immigration, no progress on the environment, no progress in health care, no progress in education, and the list goes on and on and on and on. This is the Bush legacy.

Every time a democrat talks about the election they should emphasize that John McCain is the new standard bearer for the same old Bush, Rove and Atwater politics. And then – say HELL NO! We won’t stand for another four years of this misery.

The Return of the Two-Headed Snake

Do you remember Zell Miller? He is that loathsome Georgian senator, a democrat in name only, who embarrassed himself and his party by lashing out at John Kerry during the Republican national convention four years ago. He claimed that a Kerry white house would defend this country with “spitballs.” When later challenged by the press to defend his remarks and back them up with substance, he famously said to Chris Matthews, “I wish we lived in the day where you could challenge a person to a duel.” Miller would have been a pitiable curiosity, like a deformed, two-headed snake, had he not been so vehmently ill-tempered. He shortly thereafter left elected office – thank god – and now serves on the board of the National Rifle Association.

Now we have word that Senator John McCain’s personal lap dog, Judas Joe Lieberman, has accepted an invitation to speak at the GOP convention. This makes me laugh, because a lot of conservative Republicans probably wouldn’t have let him into their country clubs eight years ago…now he is going to be one of their key speakers! That’s progress, I suppose. Maybe it has to do with Joe downgrading his belief in Judiasm from Orthodox, to the vaguely undescriptive “observant.” Even though his watered down view on Judaism would now enable him to plan for Iran’s invasion on a Saturday, the real reason Joe has managed to ingratiate himself among the neocon hawks is solely based on his support for our horribly misguided invasion and occupation of Iraq. (That, and a willingness to engage Iran preemptively.) For this the neocons are willing to let bygones be bygones. By the way, those bygones include voting against a federal law banning late term abortions. Amazing how those wedge issues seem so unimportant to the neocons now...that is unless McCain has a senior moment and actually picks him as a running mate. But for now, it's all water under the bridge.

So once again Democrats will have to endure another stray sheep wandering over the fence to gambol with the wolves at this year’s Republican convention. Once again, we’ll hear the same fear mongering claims about Democrats’ unwillingness to preemptively engage our enemies around the world. Those of us clear thinking Americans need not be too concerned this time, because Lieberman’s monontonous and soporiphic speaking style will probably lull his audience to sleep, negating the sort of rallying effect that crazy Zell Miller had. But let’s hope that at the end of the day this move derails Lieberman’s political career as quicly as it did Zeller’s. Then we can just sit back and appreciate this two-headed snake for the pitiable curiosity that he is.

What do Groucho Marx & John McCain have in common?

Well - aside from being in roughly the same age bracket...not much. Groucho was brilliant, and hysterically funny. McCain is befuddled and unintentionally funny. Take this, for example: In response to Russia's recent invasion of Georgia, the extinguished...I mean distinguished Senator from Arizona had this to say: "In the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." He's kidding, right? Last I checked we are currently tangled up in two ill-conceived invasions. So...either he is just too old to remember...or is trying to be funny. What's up John? Do you think the death of Bernie Mac has left an opening for you in the Original Kings of Comedy?

Paging Mr. John McCain

OK - I'm not the first to notice this...but how funny is it to see John McCain admonish, in a most stentorian manner, the congress to get back to work and vote on an energy bill? Really John? How are we to take him seriously? He has missed more than 100 consecutive votes and has a worse case of absenteeism than the most repugnant deadbeat dad. In fact, he's missed all eight votes on energy bill S. 3335 - I guess it doesn't matter, since he's out there warning us against the futility in maintaining tire pressure and the critical importance of offshore drilling (which until recently he opposed).

What's next? Is McCain going to come out in support of the Pickens Plan? You remember T. Boone Pickens, don't you? He just testified before Congress - selling a plan for wind turbines (which he manufactures) and natural gas (he founded the largest supplier of NG in California). Pickens claims to be trying to elevate the dialogue on energy policy (and not merely his bank account and political influence). He certainly convinced McCain's lapdog during the sales pitch: Joe Lieberman was slobbering all over himself in admiration of Mr. Pickens. Not that it should bother "Judas" Joe - but Pickens also funded the miserable "swift boat veterans" attack machine. Not that I'm opposed to reducing U.S. dependence on oil (not just foreign oil) - I'm all for it - but Pickens failed to mention that the U.S. controls even less natural gas than we do oil! He also failed to mention that the largest natural gas providers (Russia and the Middle East) are proposing an OPEC style cartel. Congressional support for the Pickens Plan is pretty short sighted if you ask me. But I digress. Back to issue at hand.

McCain is all for an energy policy that carries on the Bush administration's love-affair with big oil. And he is now calling Pelosi to task, and his comrades to arms. Maybe he will even turn up for a Senate vote this time (he's missed 82% of the votes so far this year). But don't be fooled. This is just a political, election-year stunt. If he were serious about energy policy, he'd try to come up with something that isn't dwarfed by Paris Hilton.

A General Whom I Would Readily Follow into Battle

Well, if you are on any number of mailing lists, you know that Obama is on the verge of announcing his running mate. I don't ask for much in this world: that my children lead a long, healthy and happy life, that Hollywood stops re-making films and TV shows which are nostalgic and sentimental to me, that Wes Anderson picks a song from my band to be in one of his films, that the Washington Capitals win the Stanley cup before I'm too old too old to appreciate it, and that Dick Cheney does jail time. But now I would like to add one more thing to the list. Please, please, please let Wes Clark become Obama's vice presidential candidate. I won't bore you with all the details of why I admire him - you can research him yourself and make up your own mind. But if he's on the ticket, I'm joining the Obama/Clark army.

UPDATE AS OF AUGUST 27, 2008
Well, last night Joe Biden accepted the nomination for Vice President. While initially disappointed - I can see now why Obama chose him. I think he will make a formidable partner...and even though he wasn't my first choice...they will still be able to count me among their loyal foot soldiers.

Remind me again...which countries comprise the Axis of Evil?

I'm not an expert on Russian affairs - so I can be forgiven for being a bit blind-sided by Russia's recent aggression against its former satellite. Though this is certainly not Bush's fault, it is just another example of something happening on Bush's watch that seemed to come out of left field. But what about Condi? After all, isn't Russian affairs her area of expertise? How is it that Georgia, a U.S. supported country vying for entry into NATO, with an American-educated leader, is being violated by one of our alleged allies and we seem to be caught completely unawares?

This is the kind of aggression that defined Russia throughout a great deal of the 20th century, and even as recently as Chechnya. This isn't something with which we are altogether unfamiliar. Yet America seems impotent in trying to intervene on Georgia's behalf. Georgia, is not only a partner in the so-called "war on terror" - but is the only non-Russian controlled oil pipeline through the region. I'm sure the administration hasn't lost sight of this - they did, after all, try to air lift Georgian troops back to the home land. Too bad they are out there with us on the wild goose chase for weapons of mass destruction.

Under Bush's watchful foreign policy eye Iran has moved to the threshold of becoming a nuclear-armed power; Al Q'aida has firmly retrenched in Afghanistan and in the Northern Provinces; Russia is trampling countries threatening her erstwhile Soviet hegemony; and Iraq is in a shambles. And our current foreign policy is as clueless as ever. If ever this country needed to veer as far away from its current foreign policy agenda, it's now. That means no McCain, at any cost.

Your Prospective Government has Failed You! (so far)

It's time for that awe inspiring quadrennial event that inflames passions and competitiveness throughout this country...and the world. But unlike the Olympics, America's presidential cycle doesn't bring out the best in our country. Rather, we as a nation and a democracy continue to spiral downwards at the hands of a republican party intent on an incessant bombardment of negative campaigning and pandering to fears and racial tensions that further the division between our two parties.

Not even the diversion of watching the Olympics this weekend was enough to stave off the intrusion of one of this country's great embarrassments (no, not him, I'm referring to Republican attack ads). Even though the ads soured my enjoyment of the Olympic's opening ceremony and subsequent competition, I have to hand it to the neocons: they thought to buy a lot of air space during one of the most watched events in the world. They got their message out there - if you can call that hate-filled, dishonest, fear-mongering rubbish a message. Where was Obama? In Hawaii. On vacation.

The failure of our prospective new leadership, whomever he might be, is twofold: first, and foremost, is McCain for continuing the trend of loathsome, intellectually insulting campaigning that panders to the most common, ill-informed members of our society. I naively hoped that I'd seen the last of this four years ago and that McCain would be a different kind of Republican. But we're not so lucky. He is EXACTLY the same kind of weak-willed, do-nothing, dishonest politicians that have soiled the White House for the last 10 years (yes, I include Clinton's last two years in this).

Second, Obama doesn't get a pass. Because one thing that I'd hoped the Democrats had learned from the 2000 and 2004 elections is that if you are going to get in the ring with a dirty fighter, you need to be prepared to get dirty yourself. My father always told me never to start a fight, but he also taught me how to avoid losing one. Shame on Obama and his handlers for not being prepared for this. John Kerry tried to take the high road and it got him nowhere. With all apologies, turning the other cheek does not work in American politics. McCain thinks he can get away with this crap by nodding and winking and trying to act as if this is all a joke. But it isn't a joke. It's a tragedy. And if we get stuck with the same kind of politician for another four year...it will be because the Democrats still haven't figured out how to go blow-for-blow with their sinister counterparts. Maybe Obama is doing the rope-a-dope. Maybe the trip to Hawaii is like a fighter going to his corner, recharging before the next round. Let's hope so...I'm tired of watching the Democrats go down without a fight. But I'll tell you this...I wish that it was James Carville in Obama's corner...there is a man who knew how to fight Republican style campaigns.

When he is king…who will be the first against the wall?

Given the extreme polarization between America’s two political parties over the last 12 years, I often wonder if Obama (as president) would hold accountable Harriet Miers, Karl Rove, Alberto Gonzalez, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and the myriad other progenitors of nefarious neoconservative political pogroms. Would there be a wave of vindictiveness to get payback for the 2000 Florida shenanigans? Swiftboating? Ken Starr? The U.S. attorney scandal? The Energy Taskforce scandal? Valerie Plame? Frankly, there is no shortage of viable targets at which the democrats could take aim if they regained control of the White House (and kept control of congress).

Part of me, however, worries that any such Democratic retribution would smack of the same overly zealous and reprehensible Republican policies that have so paralyzed our government, and divided this country. Despite the bitterness I still feel, and the anger that must surely well in the hearts of many of the democratic party’s older guard, maybe Obama will actually follow through on what now is a bitterly ironic reminder of George W. Bush, the candidate: being a “uniter” not a divider.

Bush didn’t succeed at much during his tenure, but he did succeed in creating one of the most hostile political environments this country has seen since Aaron Burr silenced his most famous critic 204 years ago in Weehawken, NJ. I won't be bitter if Obama aspires to repairing the damage rather than adding to it. But if the Dems are intent on holding the current administration accountable, I hope Cheney is the first against the wall.

The Summer Television Season...Brought to you by John McCain

One great thing about having kids: Political campaigns don't buy ad space on Nickelodeon or the Disney channel...yet. So, thanks to my two young sons, for now I can avoid the insulting barrage of negative attack ads that have become the hallmark of neoconservative election-year summer television. But I wonder if those days aren't too far off.

The funny thing is...I think children would naturally question the lies and half-truths the republicans try to pawn off as fact. Many adults tend to just accept what fits their preconceived, environmentally hard-wired, narrow view of the world. Personally, I find the ads offensive; an insult to my intelligence. I fervently hoped that I'd seen the last of the Swift Boat style summer television. But it seems that we are in for more of the same. Fortunately, there are others out there willing to take the time to dissect these 30 second character assassinations. One such person is William Bradley, who provides a baker's dozen list of reasons why the current McCain attack ad is not to be believed (along with a link to the ad itself). And if this ad isn't enough for you...make way for the new ad that compares Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton (in as much as they crave celebrity). And don't for a second think that this blatant juxtaposition of a black man and young blond women isn't a deliberate attempt to subliminally sow racist fears. Playing the Mandingo card isn't only insulting, it's sad, just sad.

Frankly it should come as no surprise that McCain, who once decried this type of negative advertising, has caved in to his neo-conservative puppet masters and is embracing this soul-sapping approach to campaigning. But given that McCain himself was the victim of a vicious and specious smear job at the hands of George W. Bush, I find his association with this kind of campaigning all the more distasteful and hypocritical. Why, it would be almost as incredulous as if he would suddenly come out in support of torture! Oh...wait. Never mind.

Well, as far as attack ads go I'm sure this will seem fairly innocuous compared to the ads we'll see as we get closer and closer to November, and the neocons become increasingly panicked about the demise of the Bush/Rove vision of right wing hegemony. Fortunately, I'll be watching Ralph's World, Pingu and Flight of the Conchords re-runs...and there won't be a Bush/McCain/neocon attack ad in sight.

American Econocide

Bush and his band of neocon republicans are the antithesis of what they profess to believe in. Under Bush's eight years of stewardship, we've seen government grow and spending run amok. Bush has done a hatchet job on our economy, and regardless of who is crowned king on January 20th 2009, they will have a tough job trying to undo the extensive damage.

In the latest salvo of mind-numbingly depressing news about our economy, a sheepish White House official informed CNN that the 2009 budget deficit is expected to be $490 billion. (By the way, that only includes $70 billion toward the cost of the war!)

Senator Kent Conrad, who chairs the budget committee had this to say: "If they gave out Olympic medals for fiscal irresponsibility, President Bush would take the gold, silver and bronze. With his eight years in office, he will have had the five highest deficits ever recorded. And the highest of those deficits is now projected to come in 2009, as he leaves office."

Now...you might say, "budget deficit, ah, who cares?" But remember this - the U.S. has to BORROW from other countries in order to pay off its deficit. In addition to further vitiating the dollar...putting our economic fate in the hands of countries who do not have our best interests at heart is a grave threat to our homeland security. And though a senior White House official tried to pull out that old nugget of blaming Clinton for today's deficit, I would just like to point out that Bush inherited a $128 billion surplus. From Clinton.

So, as if we needed it, here is further proof that Bush and the Rove-crafted agenda is more concerned with right-wing political hegemony than with what is best for America.

So, what?

Rather than enduring my Cassandra-like warnings about the long term damage inflicted by Bush's policies...rather than watching me froth at the mouth over the administration's (often illegal) attempts at creating a neo-con hegemony...rather than listening to me inveigh against the current state of American culture (or lack thereof), rather than watching me pull my hair out over the fate of the Washington Capitals...my wife has set me up with a blog. I'm not sure what the purpose of it is, other than to get me to vent to someone other than her.

But time permitting, I will try to commit to paper (?) my thoughts and opinions. Who knows? If this proves fruitful, perhaps I will call on others to contribute herein. If not, then it will be the sound of one hand clapping...or one mouth yapping, as it were.

So this is my innaugural post. I won't delve into anything of substance today. Who knows? Perhaps I never will. But the journey of a thousand blogs begins with...what? This? I guess so.