Debate: Obama Agrees With McCain Lots

The much anticipated 2008 Presidential Debate has concluded, with Senator John McCain barely edging a victory over Senator Barack Obama on national security/foreign policy, while Obama was the clear victor on the economy.

Obama dominated the first hour, as he demonstrated a sincere passion for the plight of the poor and middle class, and articulated quite clearly, the policies he would put forth to aid suffering to those in America's heartland. Although his smirky facial expressions at times 'took away' from his attempt to appear "presidential", that he had no major blunders compensated for that.

McCain, on the other hand, scored big points and took Obama to school on foreign policy. His tendency to 'talk-down' to Obama may have cost him a few points as it cast him as 'snarky'.

The most telling point of the entire debate, and one sure to raise doubt in the minds of independents and swing voters, was the number of times Obama had to admit that he agreed with McCain on specific points/topics. What contrast was shown that would encourage an undecided voter to pick Obama over McCain if they agree on so many positions and their views run on the same track?

With two additional debates on the horizon between these presidential hopefuls, Americans will have ample opportunity to decide which of them is best to lead America and the free world.

MCCAIN PUTS CAMPAIGNING ASIDE, RETURNS TO DC TO TACKLE TRILLION DOLLAR BAIL OUT!!!!!

Presidential nominee John McCain has put his presidential bid on hold and plans to return to Washington, DC to lead America through this financial meltdown. Calling on Senator Obama to join him and the rest of their legislative colleagues, to work together until the Wall Street/Main Street crisis is over.

A very somber McCain, who forewarned Congress back in 2006 of this impending financial debacle, has put the onus on every member of Congress who were set to recess on Friday and return to their respective cities, to now remain in Washington and actually work through this crisis for the good of the American public.

McCain addressed the American public with the following comments:

"Tomorrow morning I'll suspend my campaign and return to Washington. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision, I have asked him to join me.

I am calling on the president to convene a leadership meeting from both houses of Congress including Senator Obama and myself -- it is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem. We must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's scheduled debate on foreign policy in Mississippi. I am confident that before the markets open on Monday, we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners and earn the confidence of the American people.

All we must do to achieve this is to temporarily set politics aside."

McCain warned that America was facing an historic crisis and Congress must pass legislation quickly. If we do not act every corner of our country will be impacted, we cannot allow this to happen," McCain said.

Biden/Clintons Killing Obama's Presidential Bid

Presidential nominee Barack Obama really doesn't need enemies as long as he has team mates like Vice Presidential nominee, Joe Biden, and President Bill and Senator Hillary Clinton as his out front surrogates. Makes one question the superior 'judgement' that has been the lynch pin Obama has staked his claim for qualification to the White House on.

It seems that Axelrod/Obama's obvious decision to put all of the Black leaders/surrogates in the background and tuck them away in a closet, is proving not to have been a good judgement call after all. People in African American communities are looking... and wondering why Reverends Jackson, Sharpton, Congressman Maxine Waters, and civil rights icon John Lewis... and now even Michelle Obama have noticeably been hid away and kept in abeyance this historic election period. If the fear is that these prominent African Americans may make gaffes or "embarrass" Obama... causing him to lose the White vote... well the Biden/Clinton team are masterfully doing that job...hands down!

Make no mistake about it, Biden/Clinton team are killing Obama's presidential bid among Independents, Whites and women, in addition to successfully unmasking and proving faulty his 'excellent judgement' creds.

Every day that Biden remains on this ticket, and Bill Clinton openly campaigns and does television interviews, Obama loses. Take for instance this recent Biden gaffe:

Joe Biden said in an interview that he thought one of his campaign's own ads was "terrible" and hadn't known about it in advance.

Asked by CBS's Katie Couric about an ad Obama released earlier this month mocking John McCain for not being able to use a computer, Biden criticized the commercial and suggested it had been aired without his knowledge.

"I thought that was terrible by the way. I didn't know we did it and if I had anything to do with it, we would have never done it." Biden said.

And here is yet another Biden blunder, where he contradicts Obama's energy platform:

"Biden, during a recent encounter on an Ohio rope line said: He supports clean coal for China, but not for the United States.

"No coal plants here in America, he said. Build them, if they're going to build them, over there. Make them clean. We’re not supporting clean coal," he said of himself and Obama. But... they do, on paper, support clean coal.

Then there is Bill Cinton, who is out on the front line making the national television rounds overtly, and justifiably praising Presidential nominee McCain for his impeccable war record, and leadership down through the years as a maverick and an stalwart example of bipartisan statesmanship. In true Clintonesque fashion, he puts in context Hillary's position on not being selected Obama's Veep:

"Hillary (Clinton) never wanted to be vice president. "Not really, no... she didn't," Clinton said on "The View" when asked if Hillary really wanted to be VP. But she would have agreed to run as Barack Obama's ticketmate had Obama ever asked, Clinton said.

With fence sitters, and undecideds predicted to be the deciding factors in this year's race, McCain may only have to continually replay Biden/Clinton team words to the voting public for the next 40 days, and be a shoo-in come November 5th!

Americans Are Sick and Tired!

Americans are sick and tired of the juvenile games being played by both Barack Obama and John McCain in this election cycle. Both candidates need to Stop talking about what the other guy is NOT doing or hasn't done... and tell the American people what he will do, what is his value add, and why we need to vote for him!

Americans are sick and tired of the 'race card' being played. Racism exists in this country, and it is not about to go away because Barack Obama jumped in the Presidential race. Everybody knows that Obama is part Black. Some people in this country will not vote for him PERIOD because of that fact, and some people in this country are voting for him ONLY because of that fact. Tossing racism accusations/charges around has gotten old and trite. Put a sock in it from now until November!

Americans are sick and tired of the main line media trying to influence this Presidential election. The more attempts by main stream media to ram Obama down the throats of the American people... the more votes he loses. Haven't they figured that out yet? The more these news anchors attack Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin and magnify the small, home-town, family saga "trooper-gate" story, and dig into her children's dirty drawers... but NOT dig further into and report on what influence did and does Frank Marshall Davis, William Ayres, Saul Alinsky and others have on Barack Obama, the more the voting public will write Obama off.

Americans are sick and tired of the whole McCain P.O.W. shtick. Give it a rest already. McCain is a hero. Anybody who does not know the sacrifice John McCain has made for this nation has been living in a cave for the past 18 months. Everyone knows it and everyone appreciates him for it. But right now, today, people in real time America want McCain to give them a 'good' reason why they need to vote for him as the next President of the United States, beyond the fact that he spent those years in the Hanoi Hilton.

Americans are sick and tired of this do-nothing Congress-- of which Obama/Biden and McCain have been an integral part of. It was under their watch (Obama/Biden and McCain) that this Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, mortgage meltdown, bank closures, Wall Street greed, out-of-control spending, lobbyist driven take-down of the American financial system has been allowed to fester. It doesn't matter if you have been in Congress one day or 100,000 days... Obama/Biden and McCain are equally to blame to those of us in middle America. So stop the finger pointing and give the voters your plan to get us out of this mess. (As of this blog entry, McCain has offered his plan... Obama called a press conference to announce that he was not prepared to announce his plan). Oh well.

And lastly... the first face-to-face debate between the two candidates will occur this week. Americans are sick and tired of hearing canned phrases and regurgitated "stump speeches" in place of real, authentic answers from your hearts. Leave the politico-speak for sound bites... and give the electorate honest, frank, forthright answers to the debate questions! Voters will be tuned in and listening.

So... President McCain or President Obama consider this your one and only job interview, and give us your best. Remember you work for us... we don't work for you!

Is O.J. Causing Obama To Tank?

There seems to be a correlation between the ongoing robbery trial of O.J. Simpson, which is unfolding before our eyes... and the presidential trial of Democratic nominee Barack Obama. How ironic that everyday O.J.'s smirking face is on television... as he sits in that Las Vegas courtroom facing robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and coercion charges... Obama's poll numbers keep tanking. What??? New York and New Jersey are now in play!

Say what you will, but the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial was one of the most racially divisive events in the history of this nation. The lingering effects of that trial's verdict can still be felt, as racial tensions hover across America like a wet blanket.

In light of that reality... who scheduled this 'new' Simpson trial to run concurrent with the final 47-days of the Obama presidential campaign? Did no one think to postpone O.J.'s memorabilia 'thug' trial until after November––especially considering O.J. and Obama both are experiencing national ire for the perception of one (literally) and the other [figuratively] having killed-off a blond, talented white women... and a hero White male?

Not good timing!

Let's think about it. How many Whites remain chafed, angry, and will not ever vote for Obama because they feel he (with the help of the biased media) smugly and arrogantly gamed the system, and got away with robbing Hillary of her place in history... and now, has the audacity to set his sights on taking out America's war hero John McCain as well?

Then, how many of those same Whites, harbor subliminal anger, as they are reminded each day via television, of how another good-looking African American man, (who with the help of the late Johnny 'if it don't fit, you must acquit' Cochran) smugly and arrogantly gamed the system and got away with the murder of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman?

Those once media darlings, O.J. and Obama, although not by their own choosing, are on simultaneous tracks, as both are now on trial and are currently being judged by their peers. Will one walk and one win? Now, that would be utopia for both.

But I wouldn't bet the farm. There remains the chance that O.J. and Obama will each go down in defeat... big time! The jury is still out on both.

Obama's "Bubba" Hurdle

The 2008 Presidential General Election is in full swing. For the remaining 52 days, all eyes now will focus on the Electoral College map... and specifically, the key battleground States.

It was just a bunch of 'wolf-talking' hooey the Obama campaign's lofty calculations of a 50-State strategy, and putting States in play that could shift the political landscape. No one really believed his unrealistic predictions of turning Red-States-to-Blue, and possible Red-States-Purple. As a matter of fact, this year's Electoral College map closely resembles the 2004 Bush vs Kerry match-up, with very little deviation by States.

No, just as in the past three election cycles, this race will boil down to the meat-and-potatoes States which are must-wins for any candidate wishing to secure the presidency, and they are: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida. Now Obama's hurdle is that in three out of those 4 States he will go up against the notorious "Bubba" factor... a major determinant to whether he wins of loses.

In an effort to reach out to those bible clinging, gun-toting, small rural town Bubbas, the United Kingdom's Times Online reports:

The Obama team hopes the “Bubba factor”––Clinton’s appeal to white, working-class voters–– will revitalize its campaign and staunch defections to Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee. [Sept. 14, 2008]

Now the true coup de grâce for Obama's hemorrhaging campaign is if he can dump Senator Joe Biden as Vice President and replace him with Senator Hillary Clinton. There is absolutely no way Obama can (or will) carry those essential States without Hillary on the ticket. Remember, Hillary overwhelmingly won all four of them in the primaries. Yes, it is true that some of those Bubba's in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania may or may not vote for a Black man... even with Clinton on the ticket. But, in light of the present Electoral College map match up... Obama may not have a choice... and will make the huge gamble of adding Hillary now, or go home a loser in six short weeks.

Keep those eyes on the map!

Senator McCain and the Republicans have got to be loving this.

Wrap Your Mind Around a Sarah Palin Vice Presidency

All the talk of late is about the role of the U.S. Vice President. Is Biden ready... is Palin experienced enough? The question posed by Sarah Palin a while ago regarding her interest in the job, although flippant, it was telling, as she asked: "What does a Vice President really do"?

But first before examining the actual job responsibilities, let's juxtapose Governor Palin's readiness-to-be Vice President answer to Senator Joe Biden's recent statement on his Vice Presidential preparedness, as a possible indicator of who is... or is not set to serve:

"I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink. So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate". Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin; Sept. 11, 2008

"Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice-president of the United States of America. Let's get that straight. She's a truly close personal friend...quite frankly, it might have been a better pick than me." Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden; Sept. 10, 2008

Quite a contrast to say the least.

So, what does a Vice President do? Traditionally, the duties of the Vice President have been mostly 'ceremonial': attending funerals for world leaders, presiding over the House and Senate, and providing the tie-breaking vote if needed. But also to support the well-being, and the policies and ideas of the President of the U.S.A. Indeed, Dick Cheney has been the most hands on, powerful Vice President in the history of this nation. But his role for the past 8-years is more the exception... not the 'rule'.

Fellow country men who have served in the position of V.P. included Charles W. Fairbanks (Roosevelt); Alben W. Barkley (Truman); Albert Gore, Jr. (Clinton). And none of them had the responsibility or the expectation of overtly running anything in their V.P. capacity. And voters can rest assured, and sleep comfortably at night, knowing that Sarah Palin won't either.

The Veep job is the equivalent of being the second-string quarterback... the back-up... the "stand-by-just-in-case"! Although many are treating Palin as such, but, let's be clear: Sarah Palin is NOT running for President! She will only be the #2. And... quiet as it's kept, the odds of her ever having to step in and assume the role of President will not be any higher than has been in the past.

Yes, being a heartbeat away from President is important... but not nearly as crucial as many in they media purport it to be. With a cadre of advisors, Cabinet Secretaries, military consultants and other appointees, IF Palin should elevate to the role of President, she would not have absolute authority nor be able to override the will of the people.

Historic as her being elected Vice President would be for this country, she will basically be the proto-type... to help the American people wrap their minds around the prospect of a woman "one-day" being the Commander-in-chief. Now... while change sounds good, Americans won't be pushed into changing "too fast", too soon.

So... Sarah Palin, as V.P., will be in check, and a highly regarded figure-head, whose only claim-to-fame is access to the man with the power and the bully pulpit. No more, no less!

50+ days and counting...

McCain, Obama! You Call Yourselves World Leaders?

The road to the White House is increasingly being littered with carcases of what we Americans once held sacred in this country: women, children and disabled people. Where did civil decency in this country go? What happened to America's value system which included a respect and a safe-zone for the innocent and those who can't fight back for themselves?

This 2008 Presidential election cycle will indeed go down in history as the nastiest, most vile and negative in American history. And... if we don't pull it back NOW, and left unchecked, this negative, acerbic, acidulous climate––which is being fueled on the Internet and by biased main stream media pundits–– will result in a volatile environment which could rent this country in two at the conclusion of this race.

Just recently, in what some on the right are calling a 'direct' swipe at pitbull lipstick-wearing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin... Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama verbalized this crass, less-than-presidential remark during a stop in Virginia:

"You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig".

Name calling... insulting, degradative remarks... and crude public attacks are beneath the dignity of both of these national campaigners. And hurling attacks, especially on the wives and children of candidates has really gone too far, and has no place in decent, civil public discourse. Regardless of what one thinks about the views and positions of Obama or McCain or Palin or Biden... what public good does it serve to refer to Michelle Obama as the "N" word, Cindy McCain as the "B" word... or the most contemptible of all: circulating the most dastardly jokes about 5-month old Trig Palin, the Downs Syndrome baby of Governor Sarah Palin? What kind of nation are we becoming where ridicule of women, babies and children is acceptable and promoted?

It is the responsibility of the candidates to keep out of the gutter, and stay above the fray. Likewise, the voting public must exercise respect for themselves and this country, and stop circulating–– via emails––those unsubstantiated, uncorroborated and blantly false tales from unprofessional individuals on both sides.

Presidential candidates McCain and Obama need to remember that one of them will eventually have to govern and lead all Americans after this election is over. And trying to lead angry folks will make for a steep hill to climb. McCain, Obama... act like the world leaders you hope to be, and get back to debating issues!

Obama's Muslim Verbal Slip Hurts Him

With 12-15% of the voting public still convinced that Barack Obama is, was, and always will be a Muslim, and the seventh anniversary of 911 terrorist attacks imminently looming, the combination may spell serious news for him. The Democratic presidential nominee made what will be chronicled in the annals of the 2008 election post-reviews as the biggest faux pas of his political career on Sunday September 7, 2008.

During an ABC News' interview with George Stephanopoulos, Obama made the following statement:

"Let's not play games. What I was suggesting -- you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith".

Clearly oblivious of the misapplied words he uttered about 'his Muslim faith'... Obama kept on talking until host Stephanopoulos jumped in to try and help the Illinois Senator clean up the huge gaffe. Stephanopoulos' suggestion that he may have meant to say his "Christian faith" was too little, too late as the-cows-were-already-out-of-barn door and the news was running across bloggersville!

Gaffes such as this have been known to sink a many political campaigns. And the particularly detrimental aspect to that segment of the interview, and what will surely raise further questions and doubts regarding Obama's Christian profession, was the cavalier/''oh, yeah... right' manner in which Obama interchanged the words 'Christian faith' in place of "Muslim faith'–– as if mixing up the two faiths is no big deal. Obama should have been a bit more apologetic or appeared more shaken to the core at saying 'my Muslim faith' instead of 'my Christian faith' while addressing this prickly issue.

In this right-now/You tube age of information dissemination, clips from the Stephanopoulos/Obama exchange are all over the Internet, and will be fodder for 527s in the upcoming weeks.

Obama's poll numbers will be closely watched in the next few weeks to determine just how bad...or not, the damage.

McCain Accepts, Then Postures As A Statesman

On the final night of the Republican National Convention, Senator John Sydney McCain stepped before the American people and accepted his party's nomination for President of the United States. Gone was the rabble-rouser, snide/wise cracker McCain, and a more subdued, conventional, boring, statesman McCain stood instead.

McCain began his remarks with gracious recognition of Senator Barack Obama's historic candidacy. It was obvious the crowd wasn't sure whether to clap or "boo", as McCain's apparent heart-felt words of kindness were in sharp contrast to the biting, mocking attacks hurled at the first man of color and Democratic nominee, by speakers who preceded McCain on the various nights. Again, the Arizona Senator's aim seemed to be to exhibit a presidential statesman-like demeanor. But make no mistake about it, he did however, inform the Obama camp and all those in the listening audience, that he 'fully' intended on winning the election in 60-days.

Although his speech was interrupted by protesters––who somehow managed to get in to the controlled environment–– the new statesman-acting McCain just took it in stride... demonstrating a maturity level not indicative of the former, short-tempered McCain.

Without tipping his hand to reveal what his actual policies or plans to lead this nation would include, McCain's message was directed more to Independents and swing voters. He told them he could be trusted, that he was a proud American hero, and Obama was not. He touted himself as a well-tooled, well-informed leader who understands the dire challenges we face, and is familiar with other world leaders and how to deal with them. He assured the voters in television land who were uncommitted and still sitting on the fence, that he, and only he, was ready and able to be America's Commander-in-Chief. And, Obama was not.

But, it was in the last five minutes of his speech where John 'Wayne' McCain finally showed that old passion reminiscent of the maverick McCain. With a rise in his voice and in the tenor of his presentation McCain offered a compelling and powerful ending. He urged–– no, he begged the American voters to: fight with him for what's right for the country... fight with him for justice for all... stand up and fight as Americans... Fight as Americans who never give up or quit!!!

Perhaps the pivot to this new statesman posture is just the start of the 'change' he promised to deliver if Americans send he and Palin to the White House.

The Clampets, The Palins... The Oil!

"Where did she come from? Who is She? How did she get selected as Vice President on the Republican ticket," are the questions circulating from coast to coast about Alaska's two year governor, Sarah Palin. Even before her scheduled prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention, Palin has already galvanized the Evangelicals, rural voters from the Appalachian corridor, the Southerns, and lots of women, who like her can... "bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan... but never let their husbands forget he's the Man!" .

Well, here is the answer to the Sarah Palin mystery in song: "The Clampets, The Palins... The Oil!" (sung to the tune of the long running hit show "The Beverly Hillbillies"):

Lemme tell you all a story 'bout a man named Todd,
Whose wife came out of no where...
And his family's sorta odd.
Indeed she is attractive,
And can sure 'dress-out' a moose...
But her value to this ticket
Is her State's bubbling crude.

Oil that is. Black gold. Alaskan tea!

Well the next thing you know,
Old Sarah's tapped for Veep,
With of all her family's "baggage"
She's still headed for DC
This young (granny Clampet),
With her guns, bible and all
Will help McCain "whup"
Barack Obama come this Fall.

*****2008 RNC CONVENTION MEETS JOHN MCCAIN*****

"Who is this man and can we trust this man with the Presidency"?

That statement in a nutshell, frames the conversation for the remaining 60 days of this election contest. That question... posed by former Tennessee Senator and 2008 presidential candidate, Fred Thompson, about Senator John McCain, was the 'take away' expression of the night, and will resonate in the minds of the electorates all the way to the voting booth.

Using his deft oratory gift to tout McCain's military career and his 25+ years in the U.S. Senate, Thompson reminded Republicans, "Democrats and Women for McCain", and Independents that "Character, judgment and leadership in our president is most important in a President".

Challenging those in the media and the left leaning critics to stop the vicious attacks on Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin's children, particularly the 17-year old daughter who is pregnant with child, Thompson segued into his hardest hitting critique of Obama:

"...we need a President who doesn't think that the protection of the unborn or a newly born baby is above his pay grade. The man who will be that President is John McCain."

Hammering home McCain/Palin's theme: "Put country first"... Thompson shared with Americans that McCain can't salute the flag because he is unable to lift his arms above his head due to the torture he endured as a Prisoner Of War. He admonished voters to "do what is right for our country... and step up and stand up with John McCain".

Following that tough message delivered by Thompson was former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman. Although not as thunderous in his presentation, Lieberman quietly dismantled Obama's candidacy and looked straight into the eye of the camera to talk straight to the American people... solemnly asking they move beyond voting for Obama... but instead embrace the new McCain paradigm where "Country matters more than party".