Here is the video, Karaoke style.
Here are the lyrics.
(To be sung to the tune of "Doin' what comes natur'lly", from the Broadway musical "Annie Get Your Gun", music and original lyrics by Irving Berlin. New lyrics by Gregory Bachelis.)
Folks are scared I’m not prepared
To govern if elected
But I’ll make a great V. P.
Doin’ what the Lord tells me
(Doin’ what the Lord tells her)
Gals like me could never see
The point of facts and figures
I’ve done well politic’lly
You don’t have to know much foreign affairs
When you can see Russia from your front porch stairs
From my earliest days in the PTA
Religious/social issues were my forte'
God advises me
(God advises her)
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt
I am very proud to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Thanks to you both for answering the call.
Frank Rich had a great column in Sunday's New York Times, "Palin and McCain's Shotgun Marriage". In it he states
[McCain] wanted to choose the pro-abortion-rights Joe Lieberman as his vice president. If he were still a true maverick, he would have done so. But instead he chose partisanship and politics over country. “God only made one John McCain, and he is his own man,” said the shafted Lieberman in his own tedious convention speech last week. What a pathetic dupe.
Here is the comment I posted.
“I felt that his speech was very intriguing, rather than tedious, as you described it. Quite a balancing act! I still feel that his super-sized ego has more to do with this than anything else. Given the way McCain has tacked to the right, much of what Lieberman said about him doesn't apply anymore.
However, Lieberman's comments about partisanship were straight out of Obama’s playbook.
Here's the Wiki on the guy who wrote the speech Palin used to say how she is a "Washington outside."
Matthew Scully (born March 30, 1959, in Casper, Wyoming) is an American author, journalist, and speechwriter. He worked as a speechwriter in the 2000 presidential campaign, and served as a special assistant and senior speechwriter for President George W. Bush from January 2001 to August 2004. He has also written for vice-presidents Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney, the late Governor Robert P. Casey of Pennsylvania, and vice presidential nominee Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/what-is-mccain-thinking-one-alaskans-perspective/
Lovely Downtown Wasilla, Alaska
“Is this a joke?” That seemed to be the question du jour when my phone started ringing off the hook at 6:45am here in Alaska. I mean, we’re sort of excited that our humble state has gotten some kind of national ‘nod’….but seriously? Sarah Palin for Vice President? Yes, she’s a popular governor. Her all time high approval rating hovered around 90% at one point. But bear in mind that the 90% approval rating came from one of the most conservative, and reddest-of-the-red states out there. And that approval rating came before a series of events that have lead many Alaskans to question the governor’s once pristine image.
There is no doubt in my mind that many Alaskans are feeling pretty excited about this. But we live in our own little bubble up here, and most of the attention we get is because of The Bridge to Nowhere, polar bears, the indictment of Ted Stevens, and the ongoing investigation and conviction of the string of legislators and oil executives who literally called themselves “The Corrupt Bastards Club”.
So seeing our governor out there in the national spotlight accepting the nomination for Vice Presidential candidate is just downright surreal. Just months ago, when rumors surfaced that she was on the long version of the short list, she was questioned if she’d be interested in the position. She said she couldn’t answer “until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day. I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here….”
There is no doubt that Palin has fierce territorial loyalties. When elected governor there was much concern because she came right out and said she would favor her own home town of Wasilla (where she was mayor) and its surrounding environs collectively known as “the Valley” while leading the state. And it’s obvious from her statement that Alaska was on her mind when accepting the VP nod (see my emphasis above).
So what is it that we’re “trying to accomplish up here”?
Will all this wash with voters in the ‘Lower 48′? Time will tell.
18 Million Cracks in the Glass Ceiling
It was obvious anyway, but became beat-you-over-the-head-with-a-two-by-four obvious when Palin referenced the ‘glass ceiling’ line, that this choice is a blatant pander to women. I would like to believe that women will actually feel insulted by this. Yes, it would have been historic if Hillary had gotten the nomination. It was historic that she made it as far as she did. Yes, it would be great to have a woman in the oval office, or in the VP slot if they are the right woman…a woman who got there with her own drive, grit, determination, intelligence, skill and merits. When you’re hand-picked by a man to win votes simply because you are a woman, that doesn’t count, and it doesn’t break any kind of ceiling. Would we have had a Stan Palin as our VP pick? No. So choosing a woman because you think her gender will get votes is insulting.
Governor “Squeakyclean”….or not.
Another focus of Palin’s introduction today was her reform image. Listen to John McCain and you’ll hear about a maverick reformer who took on big oil, took on corrupt Alaska politicians, and whose ethics are unquestioned.
Alaskans really want to like Sarah Palin. In a state where corruption is the rule, and the same faces keep recycling over and over and over again like a bad dream, a new face, with a promise of reform seemed like a breath of fresh air. Palin defeated incumbent governor Frank Murkowski (father of Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski who he appointed to his own Senate seat when he was elected governor) because he was such an obnoxious, bloviating, downright BAD politician. This staunchly republican state voted with relief, not having to cross over and vote Democratic, but still able to get Murkowski the hell out of office. In the general election Palin swept into office running against a former Democratic governor, Tony Knowles, who was capable but came with baggage. And he represented to Alaskans more of the same, tired old-style politics, and special interests that we have come to loathe.
So, if McCain had made his selection six months ago, the squeaky-clean governor meme would have made a little more sense. But, Sarah Palin is currently under an ethics investigation by the Alaska state legislature. The details of this investigation read like a trashy novel, and I suspect that the players will soon have newfound celebrity on the national stage. I’ll try to explain for all you non-Alaskans who suddenly have good reason to want to know more about Sarah Palin. For those of you not interested in trashy novels, feel free to skip ahead. Here it is…what we in Alaska call “TrooperGate”.
Sarah Palin’s sister Molly married a guy named Mike Wooten who is an Alaska State Trooper. Mike and Molly had a rocky marriage. When the marriage broke up, there was a bitter custody fight that is still ongoing. During the custody investigation, all sorts of things were brought up about Wooten including the fact that he had illegally shot a moose (yes folks this is Alaska), driven drunk, and used a taser (on the test setting, he reminds us) on his 11-year old stepson, who supposedly had asked to see what it felt like. While Wooten has turned out to be a less than stellar figure, the fact that Palin’s father accompanied him on the infamous moose hunt, and that many of the dozens of charges brought up by the Palin family happened long before they were ever reported smacked of desperate custody fight. Wooten’s story is that he was basically stalked by the family.
After all this, Wooten was investigated and disciplined on two counts and allowed to kept his position with the troopers. Enter Walt Monegan, Palin’s appointed new chief of the Department of Public Safety and head of the troopers. Monegan was beloved by the troopers, did a bang-up job with minimal funding and suddenly got axed. Palin was out of town and Monegan got “offered another job” (aka fired) with no explanation to Alaskans. Pressure was put on the governor to give details, because rumors started to swirl around the fact that the highly respected Monegan was fired because he refused to fire the aforementioned Mike Wooten. Palin vehemently denied ever talking to Monegan or pressuring Monegan in any way to fire Wooten, or that anyone on her staff did. Over the weeks it has come out that not only was pressure applied, there were literally dozens of conversations in which pressure was applied to fire him. Monegan has testified to this fact, spurring an ongoing investigation by the Alaska state legislature. But, before this investigation got underway, Palin sent the Alaska State Attorney General out to do some investigative work of his own so she could find out in advance what the real investigation was going to find. (No, I’m not making this up). The AG interviewed several people, unbeknownst to the actual appointed investigator or the Legislature! Palin’s investigation of herself uncovered a recorded phone call retained by the Alaska State Troopers from Frank Bailey, a Palin underling, putting pressure on a trooper about the Wooten non-firing. Todd Palin (governor’s husband) even talked to Monegan himself in Palin’s office while she was away. Bailey is now on paid administrative leave.
As if this weren’t enough, Monegan’s appointed replacement Chuck Kopp, turns out to have been the center of his own little scandal. He received a letter of reprimand and was reassigned after sexual harrassment allegations by a former coworker who didn’t like all the unwanted kissing and hugging in the office. Was he vetted? Obviously not. When he was questioned about all this, his comment was that no one had asked him and he thought they all knew. Kopp, defiant, still claimed to have done nothing wrong and said to the press that there was no way he was stepping down from his new position. Twenty four hours later, he stepped down. Later it was uncovered that he received a $10,000 severance package for his two weeks on the job from Palin. Monegan got nothing.
After extensive news coverage about all this nasty behind-the-scenes scandal, which is definitely NOT squeaky clean, Palin’s approval ratings fell to 67%, still high, but a far cry from the 90% number that’s being thrown around so glibly by the Republicans today. Alaskans are quickly becoming disillusioned once again.
“Executive Experience”
Before her meteoric rise to political success as governor, just two short years ago Sarah Palin was the mayor of Wasilla. I had a good chuckle at MSN.com’s claim that she had been the mayor of “Wasilla City”. It is not a city. Just Wasilla. Wasilla is the heart of the Alaska “Bible belt” and Sarah was raised amongst the tribe that believes creationism should be taught in our public schools, homosexuality is a sin, and life begins at conception. She’s a gun-toting, hang ‘em high conservative. Remember…this is where her approval ratings come from. There is no doubt that McCain again is making a strategic choice to appeal to a particular demographic - fundamentalist right-wing gun-owning Christians. And Republican bloggers are already gushing about how she has ‘more executive experience’ than Obama does! Above is a picture of lovely downtown Wasilla, for those of you unfamiliar with the area. Behind the Mug-Shot Saloon (the first bar I visited when I moved to Alaska long ago) is a little strip mall. There are street signs in Wasilla with bullet holes in them. Wasilla has a population of about 5500 people, and 1979 occupied housing units. This is where your potential Vice President was two short years ago. Can you imagine her negotiating a nuclear non-proliferation treaty? Discussing foreign policy? Understanding non-Alaskan issues? Frankly, I don’t even know if she’s ever been out of the country. She may ‘get’ Alaska, but there are only a half a million people here. Don’t get me wrong….I love Alaska with all my heart. I’m just saying.
I, and all Alaskans will be interested to see how this whole process unfolds. This is definitely a gamble for McCain, and in my humble opinion, a gift to Obama and to Joe Biden who just got thrown a big hunk of red meat for the vice presidential debate.
This is the wedge-issue, desperate ’Hail Sarah’ pass of the McCain campaign.
Now I’m off to get some Jiffy Pop.
Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
McCain's Veep Choice is - like so many other decisions by his campaign - a completely tactical move. And a very good one too. Sarah Palin brings far more positives than negatives to McCain's campaign, and represents a big trap that our people could easily fall right into.
Let's examine why she's a great choice. Firstly, she's a darling to social conservatives and fires up the Republican base. Secondly, she's got a maverick reputation (which buttresses McCain's shaky claims to the moniker). Thirdly, she's a woman and gives McCain an out from the "Old White Guy" syndrome, and an opportunity to cash in on the white working class woman voter. Fourthly, she apparently knows more about energy policy than most "Hockey Moms". Lastly, she's pretty good looking, and in the "American Idol" political world of today that means far more than it should.
Her weaknesses are pretty obvious. One, as has already been stated frequently, she undercuts the McCain "Is he ready to lead" line (although my guess is that McCain's people feel they've hit home with that and are moving on). Two, she's a complete unknown and may have some of her own baggage (including her very own Troopergate. No doubt she's assured the GOP vetters that it's no big deal - but these things have a life of her own). Three, her strident Evangelical views might be too much for many of the so-called disaffected Clinton supporters to swallow. Four, she puts McCain's age and health in play - because she's a heartbeat away.
We need to be very careful dealing with Governor Palin. She comes across as a very deterimined and feisty performer, who looks likely to relish the cut and thrust of the campaign. Her shrill ordariness is a major asset in a political world where mediocrity is golden. She's also a huge bear trap (pardon the vaguely Alaskan reference). If we mix it up with her - she can play the wronged woman and the charges of mysogyny will fly. Absurd as that would be - some of it would stick and undermine our guy's appeal to women.
The best course of action is to ignore her.
I don't understand. Now I may be seventeen--and feel free to call me young and stupid if you would like--but McCain's VP pick doesn't make much sense to me.
Let's look at what McCain's main contentions have been:
Barack Obama is a celebrity- You know, the "he's running on his race" euphemisms.
Barack Obama is young and inexperienced- Obama is 47 and has served in the Illinois legislature and the U.S. Senate.
Now let's look at Governor Palin:
Is McCain attempting to "run on Palin's gender"? That argument could be made. Particularly since he's spent the last week trying to anger female voters that Clinton is not on the Deomcratic ticket. This is the "look, see, he didn't pick a woman, but I did" tactic. At least to my eyes. But then, again, I'm young and stupid.
Does McCain really want to talk about youth and inexperience? Palin is 44. She was a town mayor. She has been governor of Alaska for a whopping two years.
I know from having a 79-year-old, politically rambunctious grandmother whom my mother has aptly nicknamed "Donna Quixote" that age rarely matters. But in the case of the Presidency of the United States, it does. McCain is old. There's no arguing that point.
When you are as old as McCain is, do you really want to run with a Vice President who is arguably inexperienced? Let's face it, if McCain doesn't survive four years in the Oval Office, America will wind up with Governor Palin for its President.
Upon examining Palin's political views, we find a strong social conservative. If I'm not mistaken, we've been living under one for eight years. Adding her social conservatism to McCain's 90%-with-Bush voting record, upon doing the math, you will inevitably come to the conclusion that McCain/Palin is not the change ticket.
So the basic question of this blog is:
What is McCain thinking?
I know I said that I was angry over the FISA bill vote, but after the speeches today I am back on board wholeheartedly.
When I first heard the announcement, I was not sure that Biden was the best pick. Now that I have heard his speach and am reminded what a running mate can do for a ticket, I think Barack Obama has made an excellent choice.
I even made another donation to the campaign.
While I was somehwhat miffed that we had to wait so long to find out who the VP would be, now that the emotional waiting is over, I can see the wisdom of the decision to wait. We now roll into the convention on a high, possibly keeping the VP bounce and combining it with the convention bounce. McCain will have a lame convention, with controversy over LIEberman, Bush, and Cheney, and a VP rollout that has already leaked (Romney) or will be extremely lame (Pawlenty). Obama, once again, has done it right and showed how he and his people will run this country the right way.
Now, the timing strategy is not the only important thing Obama has done right (I love the 3 AM phone call connotation to the text message). The man he picked is a great pick as well. While I would have been okay with Kaine or Bayh, and thrilled with Kerry, Gore, or Clinton, this is the right choice. We've got an experienced -- real experience Mr. McCain -- Catholic, white-working-class-lunchbucket Democrat with enough liberalism to satisfy Obama fans and enough "have a beer with" appeal to get those not so thrilled with Obama but wanting a change in Washington from the past eight years. I think this clinches PA and helps in places like Ohio and Michigan. What most don't notice as a possitive, in fact, most make fun of it, is the gray, balding head. We've done poorly with seniors. This should show them its okay to vote for Obama, he likes old folks, too.
The best part of Biden is his rhetoric. This guy just doesn't give a flying fudge. He may be toned back a bit until the election is over, but there will be plenty of sound bites to get under McCain's aging skin. See any of the debates for proof -- he's downright entertaining. "Noun, verb, and 9/11" -- priceless! He's able to use wit, charm, real straight-talk, and intellect to put ANYONE in their place. Even when he does go too far, the media seems to see it as charming and just Joe being Joe -- see the BS comment about Bush. Usually, his over-the-top jabs are on the money, not below the belt, so he gets away with it. I don't envy anyone who has to debate him. Romney may do okay, but lose handily; Pawlenty will be out of his element and look like he's taking a seminar class in America 101 from Prof. Biden.
So, "the biggest celebrity in the world" choses an everyday Joe. The VP pick is more about a message to the voters than anything. The message -- "I care about you, the middle class, the little guy." Don't let McCain fool anyone, its Obama who is for the people, by the people -- not McRealestate.
Sure, Biden's remarks about Obama not being ready will come back, but can be explained -- and if McCain taps Romney, we can do the same. Sure, it doesn't look like CHANGE, but Biden can always say he's been fighting to change Washington for over 30 years and now he has a chance to do it with Barack. The only other thing to get over is the fact that Obama-Biden sounds a bit like Osama BinLaden. I don't think that will be an issue. While McCain's chasing BinLaden to the gates of hell, possibly to join him there, Obama will be in the White House finding out that actually consentrating on Afghanistan will make finding BinLaden much easier than that. See you in hell, Johnny!
Now, since I've advocated for just about every possible VP shortlister (other than CHET EDWARDS??), do I still get to say "I told you so"? Guess not.
I know a lot of people are afraid to vote for Senator Obama because they believe he is a Muslim, I am somewhat afraid of him because I almost believe him when he says he is a devoted Christian. To all of us who are not, Jews, atheist, agnostics or just tolerant, non fanatics human beings, the Christian right, evangelicals, Southern Baptists are really scary. They have cause more damage to this country with there misogynistic, homophobic, self-righteous puritanical impositions than any Muslim ever could; and if you are Jewish, well, the Aryan race did not look like Obama, just open your history book to the 40s, to see what the enemy really looked like.
So, if Obama does not pick Senator Clinton, the obvious need to win choice, here is a suggestion to ease the fears of the likes of me: Jesse Ventura.
He is independent, outspoken and would make a great attack dog. He would certainly not subject himself to an Orange County setup against a nonexistent cone of silence, and a never happened coin toss. He would show the appropriate irreverence to the holly setup.
Yes, definitely Jesse Ventura should be the one.
I know this is a day late and a dollar short. But I just have to say it.
Barack: Choose Hillary for VP.
I was not a Hillary supporter. I supported Barack Obama from nearly the start. So my opinion has nothing to do with Hillary as a first choice.
Hillary brings her supporters to the cause if you select her.
Hillary brings her various experience, real and perceived, to the cause.
But most important of all: She brings her fighting spirit with her.
Barack, I love you. I understand what you say and why you say it. But that alone is not going to win this election. The Rovian machine is going to walk all over you and we are going to end up with a minimum of 4 more years of GOP hell.
We cannot afford that! For the love of all that is American, please pick Hillary! And then let's launch a massive offensive at McCain and the Rovian death machine!
Though the recent speculation suggests otherwise, I can't help but be pulled back into thinking Barack will pick Hillary as VP. Despite what some ardent supporters say, the majority of the party, including those who are actually delegates (super or otherwise) want this. Here are some random thoughts brought to the surface by 40 minutes on the treadmill and a shower...
Whomever it is, I'm going to bet Hillary and keep my chips down until I know for a fact otherwise. It seems logical, neccessary, and the kind of overhyped trickery that Obama has become famous for. (No insult there; I'm all for overhype and trickery.) The other trick he could be pulling is naming Webb VP to speak about foreign affairs on Wednesday, meaning that whole overblown letter to Obama (something that never needed to happen, as others just flat out say they don't want the job) a prop to get Webb off the radar so he could be the surprise.
**********************************UPDATE**************************************
Mark Warner has just been named the keynote speaker of the convention and will deliver his speech TUESDAY night. This would make a crowded night, especially when it was being touted as "Hillary's Day" at the convention. This would probably upset Clinton followers as some attention would be diverted from the Hillary butt-kiss fest. THAT IS UNLESS... Hillary will be moved to Wednesday as the VP pick. It even makes more sense now.
For Warner this helps him in his bid for Senate in Virginia. The exposure will get him more turnout, and with Democrats flocking to the polls to get Warner, who is very popular in VA, elected, Obama stands to gain significant votes. This seems to be the plan for winning Virginia, a state he is already close in -- get voters enthusiastic about Warner through a convention speech to gain voters for himself. Appearently, that move means Obama thinks he can win Virginia through more subtle measures than making Kaine, Webb, or Warner the VP.
The hot rumor is now that Barack is back to Wes Clark for VP. This is due to the VP's speaking day being Wednesday at the convention, the day themed "Securing America's Future". The day is supposed to be about foreign affairs, protecting the country, and honoring veterans. The talk immediately switched to Kerry, Clark, Bayh, and Beiden. But once the bloggers realized "Securing America's Future" is Wes Clark's PAC, the spotlight moved entirely on Clark.
I know you're saying, didn't Obama reject and denounce Clark for his comments against McCain's military service. But he didn't really. He said that diminishing McCain's heroism, patriotism, and service wouldn't be accepted by anyone. He never mentioned Clark by name -- so, perhaps Obama doesn't feel Clark was doing that with his comments that crashing a helicopter doesn't make you automatically qulified for the job of president. Which, of course, is obviously true and not demeaning to McCain's service at all.
If we look back at his Meet the Press interview that turned to VP considerations, his answers about not trying to bring a state or get a "yes" man, but rather someone who could change Washington (a capital hill outsider), work with him and tell him when he disagrees, and bring a skill set that will be helpful in our challanges ahead, fit Clark to a T. So, do we have our guy? Who the hell knows at this point...I'll wait for an E-mail Sunday night and a rally Monday morning to find out for sure.
Find out via text message the moment Barack makes his VP choice by texting VP to 62262.
Or click here to find out who the VP choice is via email.
As you all probably know, we've been given the chance to know Barack Obama's vice presidential pick before the "general public". I know its exciting, and certainly, I was one of the first to sign up when I received the email. It sounds great -- expecially for those of us who have been chomping at the bit to know who will be joining Barack on our buttons and bumper stickers. The only problem is, it's not going to be THAT big of a deal to get the email or text message.
I'm sure many members of the press will have gotten the information before hand through their contacts and we will probably know a few hours to a day ahead of time. There will probably be headlines like, "Obama expected to text _________________________ is his VP pick today". Even if nothing gets leaked, and it really happens the way they say it will, members of the media will also be on that list and be writing their headlines ASAP. So, unless you are permanently strapped to your cell phone or computer, you're more likely to see the headline on your internet providers main page before you even log into your email.
Either way, it's a genious move. Get some cell numbers to call and bug for money, get some more publicity and buzz as the talking heads spend all week talking about the move, and show how change oriented and computer savvy the campaign is. Can McCain do this? I doubt it. If his people did a similar thing, he'd probably be the last to know who is VP was! It would at least open up the jokes about his age even more.
So, rumors are abound in the blogosphere. Many point to Hillary, saying that the reason Bill wasn't in the official press announcement of speakers for the convention -- it's been stated he will speak Wednesday before the veep -- is because he will really be taking the Tuesday slot reserved for Hillary, and she will be taking the Wednesday speach as VP. There is a lot pointing toward this resolution to Clinton v Obama, but we've had tons of evidence for this veep and that, and still nothing.
The other most popular rumor -- that he had already chosen Feingold and was just jerking us around to make it a surprise -- seems out the door. Feingold praised McCain and got headlines for it. He assured the public that McCain in power would be a maverick and would piss off the conservative right. That may help increase right wing distain for McCain and actually help in the polls, but at the same time reassured independents making it a crappy way to help Obama. So, he must be out.
I read an interesting one about Caroline Kennedy being named to the vetting committee to find someone better than herself -- Obama's first choice according to the rumor -- and she's been unsuccessful, so Obama is going to force her into action. The theory states that she is definately an outsider, brings the Kennedy brand, the Clinton people will understand picking THIS women and not be upset, and that she's really, really, really smart. I'm not buying this one. Of course with my luck lately, it probably will turn out to be true.
The final rumor is Al Gore. Appearently, he's said some things recently that contradicted his "I can do more good outside of government" and indicate he'd be willing to do America's number two job twice. I doubt this as well. This theory states that Gore is hungry for the White House, and a run in 2016 after veeping for Obama for 8 years is his best chance. I don't like that thought. It seems voters, especially Democratic leaders, would look at the ticket wishing it were reversed, killing enthusiasm for Obama.
I'm not hearing much on Kaine. He seems kinda lame and inexperienced, not to mention unliked by Obama's base because of his record on abortion and not fighting the death penalty. Then there's Bayh, who still may be the front runner if you go with conventional wisdom. What Obama keeps showing us, though, is he is NOT the conventional candidate and is not running the conventional campaign. Just look at Monday's convention schedule. Michelle is getting top billing that evening -- highly unusual. It's a good sign to the world that women are not just there to look pretty and hug the president when he's feeling down. She will be a key aid to him as a president, as she should be, and it will set a precedent for future first ladies. Perhaps we may see Michelle in the Senate some day in her own quest to be the first female president. Stranger things have happened.
Well, looks like we're in for an interesting two weeks. Stay tuned to your email and cell phones.
I read a blog today from someone who claimed to have worked extensively with Obama and also claims to be a personal friend of Hillary Clinton (liar or Senator?) and CLAIMS that they truly are friends. He or she said they both are very competitive and wanted to win, and they both understand that about each other. They have left the primaries behind and are ready to move on (Bill is another question altogether). If this is true, a VP nod may be coming for the Hillster. In their few appearences together since she suspended her campaign, they have looked very chummy together -- good actors or the real deal.
Some speculate that when they took a plane together after Obama met with his VP vetter in his law office, in the company of Caroline Kennedy (another vetter), the deal was done. The rest of this VP tango has been a ruse because he wants it to look like his choice, to be a surprise, and to be considered "defying conventional wisdom" -- an outside the box pick rather than the obvious choice.
Has the entire Democratic party been dragging us along on a magical, mystery ride just to come back to the original "obvious" conclusion. If Hillary's people are moved by her being on the ticket, and Obama's people are satisfied with her praise and the excitement of the convention, this could work out. And I had another thought. For those worried about McCain commercials showing Hillary attacking Obama, what about Obama commercials showing McCain PRAISING Hillary as he did when he was trying to court her supporters. We could probably find enough video of him praising Obama to do a whole string of adds with McCain complementing the entire ticket.
Of course I have also been hearing rumors that Obama had selected Feingold from jump street, and the rest has been a ruse -- from day one. That may be more of a risky pick than we realize. 98 out of 100 on the liberal scale and divorced twice isn't the typical perscription for a Democratic veep. But this hasn't been a typical election cycle. Of course Bayh, Kaine, and Beiden are all still out there looming. The suspense is killing me!
How about this lineup...
