It's time for some political questions of the moment:
1. Who the hell is Sarah Palin? Yes I know, devoted hockey mom meets the religious right. I actually think this was a brilliant BRILLIANT chess move by McCain, but I hope I am wrong about that. It neutralizes Biden (can't pick on her in the debates or he's sexist, right Hillary?) and puts a happy personable human next to McCain. Of course, standing next to McCain, she also makes him look particularly elderly and creaky, which I like. Hopefully the concerns over her lack of experience and preparation will win the day. And is it just me (being sexist?) but who goes back to work running the state 3 days after having a special needs baby and then runs for vice-president 5 months later? Scary Republican Super-Mom, that's who.
2. Is Barack going to be tough in more than one speech? Barack did a great job in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. As one commentator said, "Here is a Democrat who has found his spine." He attacked head-on the notion that only Republicans can be trusted with wars and national security. He alluded to McCain's volatile temperment as a liability. He said, "ENOUGH." Will Barack keep it up or was that a one-time show? Everyone knows Obama is a superb speaker, but he has been notoriously generous with his opponents. Yes, it's part of his charm, but there's no time for that now. I heard comedian D.L. Hughley on the radio the other day giving some of the best political analysis I have heard in a while. He said we gotta fight this dirty, like a Republican or a Clinton. Ok, maybe not quite that dirty. But wouldn't it be great to see an ad that cuts all McCain's senior moments together with perhaps some temper and "bomb bomb Iran" for good measure? Take off the gloves, Barack. We'll still love you.
And speaking of the Clintons . . .
3. Do they really mean it? Hillary and Bill both gave excellent speeches at the DNC. In Hillary's though, I would have liked to hear less about Hillary (we get it, you were ALMOST President and you're a WOMAN) and more about why she supports Obama other than that he is not McCain. But she did everything she could to get those (in Rachel Maddow's terminology) "post-rational" PUMAs to vote for Barack. Bill filled the gap in Hillary's speech beautifully. He detailed why Obama is qualified to be President and noted that people thought Bill Clinton wasn't experienced enough either - but then we had all that prosperity and happiness back then when he was President. Remember? Remember? But until I see Bill and Hillary relentlessly on the campaign trail for Obama (and Hillary, in particular, putting the smackdown on the Palin strategy) I can't help but think what they are thinking: 2012.
4. Will the damage done by Hillary in the primary decide the election? Yes, conventional wisdom is that she acquitted herself and all is forgiven because of that speech in #3, above. But every devastating word Hillary said about Obama in the primary is now being replayed in McCain ads. Hillary painted Obama as inexperienced and unqualified for months without Republicans having to lift a finger. And then there are those rabid PUMAs - I don't know what it stands for (that's another question!) but I am guessing it is People United to Make America suck. Just sayin'.
5. In the debates, will the moderators take to heart Obama's admonition not to make this big election about little things? Or will they pursue tabloid "gotcha" questioning, as they did in the primary debates? Then their (lame) excuse was that the policy differences between Hillary and Barack were so slight, they simply had to ask about inconsequential nonsense. That line of reasoning is out the window with Obama and McCain, Biden and Palin. So now what? I won't hold my breath in this Britney-Lohan nation, but let's have the audacity to hope for something better.
6. And speaking of Britney and Lindsay Lohan, why when I listen to 96.5 Kiss FM (Cleveland's local top-40 pop station) would I think that there isn't even a Presidential campaign underway? All the newsbreaks are about "celebrities," and no, even Obama doesn't make the cut. It's irresponsible to fill young people's heads with nothing but fluff, even if you're not NPR (ick). They could take a lesson from Michael Baisden or Tom Joyner, who use their radio airwaves for more than just entertainment.
7. Finally - Is it ok to say Barack Obama is hot? My friend Jen texted me the night of the speech: "Obama is so dreamy!" Totally! Remember when the Republicans thought women would vote for Bush I because of Dan Quayle? We were so offended. Number 1, we don't vote based on looks. Number 2, Quayle was so not hot! Barack Obama is another story entirely. Of course that gleaming smile is so NOT why I'm voting for him.
Stay tuned . . .
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2 comments:
1) An offensive attempt to assume that women who wanted Hillary to win are so stubborn and stupid that they will vote for him instead even though she is the anti woman woman.
2)Only once more, sometime in late October.
3)Yes. What is the alternative?
4)No. It's amazing what the American people on both sides can conveniently forget.
5)No. The media sux.
6)See #5
7)I don't see it, but if you think he's dreamy, have a field day with yourself. :)
See, now I don't think it was really such a brilliant move - I think most women are smart enough that the reasons that they supported Hillary were not sheerly that she was a woman and thus would simply vote for her "gynelogical twin" as she was called on Jon Stewart.
Also - I think that primaries are all about pointing out the flaws in your same-sided opponents and America knows this and sheds all of those arguements during the actual election campaigns. It's just how we function for better or worse.
I don't see anything wrong with Hillary supporting Barack now and still have her eye on eventually landing that presidency herself. I supported Hillary in the primaries and I'm supporting Brack now - it doesn't make me a hypocrit, just a firm believer in the Democrats vision for America.
I'd never listen to the top 40 station for political news anymore than I'd listen to NPR for celebrity gossip. It's like watching Entertainment Tonight for insightful political commentary - it would probably help educate a vast group of politically-ignorant people but it isn't what those stations are aiming to do.
Sure you're allowed to say Barack is hot if you think he is! We're smart enough to recognize hot and smart all wrapped up in 1 person! We're a visual world and that's why America generally doesn't vote short, squat, ugly people into office no matter how smart they might be (I'm hoping that shot of McCain looking like a rabid beaver they keep showing on the Daily Show subliminally influences a few independants, myself!).
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