Keeping The Lid On?

Should the media be given credit for listing stories that they have chosen not to cover because there was no evidence to back the stories up? It's like saying, hey give me credit for not previously doing what I'm about to do... So here are stories that the media determined were not worth coverage...until now???



Rumor: Obama Was Not Born in America


"His birth certificate proves Obama, shown here as a toddler with mom Ann Dunham, was born in Hawaii," according to politico.com



Rumor: McCain Calls Wife a Nasty Slur


"The story comes from a book called "The Real McCain," by Cliff Schecter, a Democratic political consultant. He cites as sources three anonymous Arizona reporters who supposedly heard the nasty word. But no other reporter has been able to replicate Schecter's sourcing," according to politico.com



Rumor: Obama Sends Money to a Kenyan Opposition Leader


"The proof of all this was supposed to be in an e-mail from Obama. The message, however, was clearly not written by a native English speaker," according to politico.com



Rumor: McCain Crashed Navy Planes


"Liberal partisans have blamed McCain, here as a young Navy pilot, for crashing as many as five planes, including one that supposedly led to the 1967 disaster on the USS Forrestal, where an explosion and fire killed 134 sailors. The claim is that McCain could have sparked the blast by engaging in a risky maneuver. But none of the contemporary investigations suggested McCain could have played any role in the tragedy," according to politico.com



Rumor: Michelle Obama Uses Racial Slurs


"Rumor has it there's a tape featuring Michelle Obama, wife of the Democratic candidate, saying nasty things about white people and referring to them as "whitey." But the former CIA operative who kept pushing this story also kept changing his description of his sources for it. No such tape has ever surfaced. Michelle Obama has directly denied using the term," according to politico.com



Rumor: McCain Insults Fellow Vacationers


"Yet another rumor maintains McCain insulted fellow vacationers during a trip to Fiji before his first run for president. Among his supposed mean deeds: Forcing people to listen to him read aloud from the works of William Faulkner. The source of the story was an e-mail that has been attributed to two different women. The editor of the left-wing newsletter CounterPunch said he concluded 'it's a phony,'" according to politico.com

"Hate Calls"

So the phone is ringing...You walk away from the computer...Leave your dinner unattended on the stove...Tell the kids stop playing so loudly and answer the phone...it's a recording.

“If Democrats win full control of government, they will want to give civil rights to terrorists and talk unconditionally to dictators and state sponsors of terror. Barack Obama and his Democratic allies lack the experience and judgment to lead America,” says the robotic voice on the other end of the phone.

Well, I know that campaigns can get a little dirty and spread untruths, to say the least. But, according to the Huffington Post, Sen. McCain is employing the same tactics that were used to smear him in 2000. The first round of phone messages were about Sen. Obama's supposed connection to William Ayers. But, the most recent phone calls circulating in McCain's home state are directly linking Obama and all other democrats to terrorism. That's a brash statement!

Why would he resort to using theses phone calls to gain votes? Especially when McCain called these messages once used to attack him "hate calls."

I Know It's Silly

This video is rather silly. It pokes fun at Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin. But, I wonder if I find this video comical because it makes fun of all of the negative stories that the media has run about both candidates on the Republican ticket.

Does the media set the stage for what is considered funny? Does the media make our mouths water by uncovering weird facts or possibly damaging facts about our candidates that pave the way for comics?

Too Young To Vote, But Still Heard

The youth across the country are turning out in large numbers to hold mock elections and report campaign coverage to their teenage counterparts. I love this. It should supported and encouraged.

However, the Huffington Post, reported one teenage reporter is not having such a great time interviewing John McCain.

" I interviewed McCain so many times he starts to notice my red shirt, because I have a uniform, and says 'I've answered her questions before.' It's almost like he's a little grumpy with me now," said a 13-year-old Scholastic Kid Reporter from New Hampshire.

I don't think McCain is thinking clearly. This is a kid from New Hampshire. This is a kid from a swing state. Her parents and community may not be very pleased to hear that he is ignoring the future of their state.

I am Tired - I am NOT Joe the Plumber!

I am still tired of this Joe the Plumber thing and upset that I had to watch an ad about him this morning on television! We already know that Joe the Plumber is not really Joe the Plumber...And what I mean by that is we know that Sen. Obama's tax plan would actually help the non-licensed Plumber. So I am now confused are these people in this ad saying I am what Joe the plumber represented himself as - a person banking over $250,000 who doesn't want their money to trickle down and help the little guy? Or are they also average middle class citizens who would benefit from Obama's plan?

Maybe these people should go to Obama's website and use his tax cut calculator. I did. And I was pleasantly surprised with the proposed tax cut through Obama's plan. I mean couldn't afford to pay for one graduate class with my tax savings, but at least it was something ..I would not even qualify for one under McCain's proposed plan. But, let me just say, I played around with the tax calculator and my mother and my friends with children would get a tax break under McCain's proposal, so it calculator does not just appear to automatically announce that Americans would get zero dollars under McCain's tax proposal.

Guilt By Association

The GOP is trying hard to find Sen. Obama guilty of anti-Americanism though guilt by association. There is only one problem - the charges have to stick in order for the tactic to work.

"It seems that there is yet another radical professor from the neighborhood who spent a lot of time with Barack Obama going back several years," said Gov. Palin at a rally in Bowling Green, Ohio.

So who is the lucky supposed anti-American this time? Well, he is an Ivy league professor named Rashid Khalidi. According to Columbia University's website, Khalidi teaches Modern Arab Studies and Literature. He is also the Director of the Middle East Institute at Columbia University. Khalidi has not publicly disputed that he is a critic of U.S. Foreign Policy when it comes to Israel and Palestinian relations. However, more importantly, he denies ever being a spokesman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization, as Palin weights very heavily in her claim.

Obama's campaign responded by saying "ugly insinuations about Barack Obama’s relationship with a former neighbor and university colleague, Rhashid Khalidi, are completely false. Barack’s record on Israel is clear: he strongly supports the U.S.-Israel relationship. He believes that our first and incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel, America’s strongest ally in the Middle East."

So what sparked all of this? Apparently it was (at least partially) inspired by an article that was written in the LA Times in April of this year. The article reported a dinner party held in Khalidi's honor as he prepared to accept his current position at Columbia University. Obama attended the dinner party held in Chicago, along with many others. However, the title and subtitle of the article alone is worth a thousand words. "Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Barack Obama: They consider him receptive despite his clear support of Israel."

So why does the McCain camp choose to talk about this now? "Because we are one week away from potentially electing Barack Obama," said a McCain adviser.

This is a last-ditch effort to use fear tactics to get votes. I get it. Some Americans may be more comfortable with a leader who will not sit down at the same table as the labeled enemy. Some Americans may be more at ease having a leader who can show concession to opposition without losing ground and is able to communicate civilly with those who oppose him or her. That is a choice for the American people to decide.

And I also get how some Jewish Americans could feel threatened or angry if they thought that were to elect an American President who does not support the U.S's relationship with Israel.

But, there is another thing here...Is Palin also denouncing the well-revered Columbia University? Is she shaming the administrative staff, faculty, and students because they too share a commonality with Khalidi? I think she is walking a fine line here. I know that guilt by association is inescapable in the legal system when crimes are committed. But, this is not as cut and dry as that. If Columbia University elected to hire Khalidi based on his merits, I have faith that they made a good decision.

Ok...So let's say that we are all in agreement - Khalidi disputes some U.S. Foreign Policies...does that make him a bad person or a terrorist or anti-American? It sounds to me like Khalidi should deemed a maverick, as one who goes against the grain...So is that longer a good thing Palin?

Checking The Facts

No one really wants to believe that their presidential pick is misconstruing facts or stretching truths - to put it lightly. I can whole-heartedly understand that. We want to believe that those whom we have entrusted to take us into the coming days, months, and years are righteous and truthful. But, the real truth of the matter is that we as Americans have to do our own homework, crunch our own numbers, and draw our own conclusions.

Sometimes we are both consciously and unconsciously biased. Conservatives may check their conservative sources who may generally be in favor of the notion which one hopes to hold true. The same goes for liberals who want their trusted sources to be as liberal as they are. It is for these reasons that I like and trust http://www.factcheck.org/. This organization is a "nonpartisan, nonprofit 'consumer advocate' for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics," according to their mission statement. Here are just some of lies that have come undone...

GOP Continues False Claims About Obama's Tax Plan

"Republicans are misrepresenting Obama's tax proposals right down to the bitter end. New radio ads from the McCain campaign and a TV spot from the pro-Republican group Let Freedom Ring are targeting voters nationwide with some of the same tax deceptions we've been hearing all fall, rolled in a bundle and flung through the airwaves. One of the radio ads features Hank Williams Jr., the other Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. But new packaging doesn't make the charges any less false."

Obama and Biden Misrepresent McCain's Social Security Plan

"An Obama-Biden TV ad once again twists McCain's position on Social Security. It claims he backed a "plan to risk your Social Security in the stock market." In fact, the plan McCain endorsed in 2005 would have been voluntary, and workers could have put only one-third of their Social Security pension fund taxes into private accounts. "


NRA Claims Obama Voted To Deny Self-Protection
"The National Rifle Association's misleading attacks on Obama continue. A new ad shows a terrified woman grabbing a gun after an intruder smashes his way into her home. It accuses Obama of voting repeatedly for a measure that would "make you the criminal" in such cases, and voting to 'deny citizens the right of self-protection.'"

The key to fact checking is being unbiased, which is often difficult to do.

Who Is The Real Palin?

I am beginning to wonder who Sara Palin really is. I know a few things that she is not. She is not a maverick and she is not going to be crowned mother of the year (premature grandmother of the year - maybe). But, who the hell is she really? Is she the gun-toting girl next door? Is she is a fashionista? Is she a god-fearing family woman? Or is she a demanding diva?

I cannot be the only one confused about her true identity. But, I find it awful interesting that those working for the McCain-Palin campaign are dishing on the Alaskan governor - and not in a positive way.

"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone," a McCain adviser said. "She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. It concerns me that Palin cannot foster good relationships with those who are obviously in her corner. I can understand her being on the defensive side when it comes to the media, but not her own campaign advisers. If she doesn't trust these advisers, will she trust the White House advisers come January if elected?

If the McCain advisor is stating the truth when saying "[Palin] is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party," then the American people have something to worry about. And, when I really think about it...if this statement is true, then I can deduce something else about Sara Palin. She and John McCain have more in common than just sharing the Republican ticket. They both are putting personal politics before the country (the Chicago Tribune declares this about John McCain) at a time when the country needs all the help it can get.

Feeling Guilty

Sara Palin must be feeling a little guilty... She has since ditched her fancy threads for her previously worn pieces she picked up at a consignment shop. Palin is now calling all of the attention surrounding her clothing expenses "ridiculous."

You know, I really and truly did not care that the RNC was shelling out thousands for the Palin family at the highest of high-end retail shops. Although, I thought the purchase of $98 pacifier was excessive. But, then again I have purchased over-priced items in the past and probably will continue to do so in the future - so she won't hear much about that from me. But, she probably will hear from her middle class supporters who are wondering how they are going to heat their homes this winter and not so much about the latest designer fashions. She can't boast that Sen. Obama is an elitist, while she is literally walking the walk of an elitist in sexy candy-apple red pumps (which I LOVE by the way). I really just find the whole scenario rather comical. So Palin hit the campaign trail this Sunday in a pale pink blazer that she dusted off. But, I have just one question for her...I'd love to know when she is going to revisit the article of clothing pictured below.

Sara Palin: Pre-VP Pick

$2,500 Valentino Jacket

Stylist Red Pumps

7-Year-Old's Designer Hand Bag (What?)

Has It Really Come To This?

These days politics is a very hot topic. The mere discussion of politics can start start fights and also be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Just this afternoon, I exchanged smiles with an elderly gentleman who was proudly displaying the pin of his president pick on the lapel of his jacket. Would I have smiled at him if he was advocating my presidential-pick's opponent? Maybe not. Well... only if he would have smiled at me first. But, I wonder sometimes just how far people are taking politics to the extreme...

McCain Volunteer Fakes Political Driven Attack


Obama Supporters: No Parking


Let's Just Hope This Guy Is Joking!

Not This Again

One would think that most of the kinks would be worked out of the polling systems by now, especially after the huge polling dilemma of 2000. The infamous Florida recount should serve as a prime example of why miscalculating votes is deadly. But, one county in West Virginia (where they have opened voting polls early) is raising eyebrows. Some voters in Putnam County have complained of selecting one presidential candidate, while another candidate name appears as their chosen selection. This cannot be good, especially as most polls show a very close race between Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama. After such an intense election, I must know who will be the next President some time after the clock strikes twelve on November 5th. I cannot wait for the polls check and double-check their accuracy. So get it right the first time!

I Just Don't See It

I don't see how this GOP sponsored ad predicts an Obama win, as some analyists are suggesting.



This ad focuses on Kay Hagan - not Barack Obama. Yes, the ad uses the term "these liberals," but I don't automatically associate that with Obama. I think it's a stretch to connect the two.

"Talk To Your Parents About John McCain"

"Just because other people your age are doing it doesn't make it cool..."

Sound familiar? I am sure it does. But, an ad sponsored by mccainfreewhitehouse.org and starring actors from a popular teen show, is encouraging teens across America to sit their parents down and talk to them about the risks of having Sen. McCain as President.

With an overwhelming amount of young voters supporting Sen. Obama for President, I must say that this method of reaching an older demographic is brilliant because every youthful voter has at least two parents that they can reach out to. And when you do the math the numbers get pretty high pretty quickly. Although parents may know best, I think at the very least parents will be pleased that their children are taking the ever-important topic of politics seriously.



"And if you're out somewhere and you're thinking about voting McCain, just call me and I'll pick you up. No questions asked," says one of the teens offering talking points to fellow teenagers.

Celebs Choose Ads

Numerous American celebrities have been getting pretty political these days. No longer are they hitting the red carpet only to dish on their designer clothing or relationship of the month; they are talking politics.

So moveon.org, a website for an organization that aims to get the average American voter involved in politics, launched an ad contest and invited celebrities to be the judge. The contest is called Obama in 30 Seconds. The objective of the contest was to create a non-traditional ad that can engage or enlighten viewers. And so who exactly are these judges? Well, they are comprised of 24 celebrities from Matt Damon to John Legend to Oliver Stone to Moby and the list goes on from there.

I think having celebrities encourage the public to voice their political opinions is great. Most Americans do not have outlet to let their voices be heard and this contest definitely allots them one. I am not too crazy about the overall first place winner. But, I like the ad with that won the category for the most positive message.

Also, I should mention that a contest does not exist entitled McCain in 30 seconds....hmmm


AWARD: FIRST PLACE WINNER


AWARD: PEOPLE'S CHOICE


AWARD: FUNNIEST


AWARD: MOST ORIGINAL


AWARD: POSITIVE MESSAGE

Subliminal Message Maybe?

This web ad confuses me! When I started watching this ad, paid for by John McCain, I thought to myself there must be some mistake - this ad is in favor of Barack Obama. It is infused with theatrical biblical references. Maybe the McCain camp wants to send that message about Obama - he is as fake and overly dramatic as these movies that claim to represent a form of divinity. I really am confused by this ad.

This Can't Be Good

Although most people may argue that Gov. Sara Palin has not done much while serving in Alaska, it is now apparent that she was busy. She was busy doctoring documents to get free rides (literally) on the state of Alaska. I guess, if Palin saw no harm in using her political powers in the Troopergate Scandal, she surely could see no harm in creating fake official business for her children to accompany her on, just so Alaska could foot the bill.

"The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel," according to an Associated Press article on cnn.com. It's one thing to take Bristol to New York on supposed official business. Hey, maybe Bristol helped her mom to prepare for meetings - maybe. I would not really care so much about that. But, paying for a family outing to watch dad race? Now that is a waste of the tax payers money! I wonder if the taxpayers hard-earned money went toward watching Mr. Palin pull in part of the "$10,500 in Iron Dog snow machine race winnings," that the Palins claim as income.

Gov. Palin has charged $21,012 to Alaska for children's travel expenses in the short time she has been in office. This only makes me wonder what she would up to while serving four years in the White House.

It's 3am...The Phone Is Ringing

Although, I take the concept behind the 3am emergency phone call serious. I love these funny versions of what 3am calls would look like. I feel as though these comedic attempts display some common concerns about a candidates inabilty to serve in the White House.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Interestingly, I could not locate any seriously funny 3am calls on Obama and Biden. But, I did find some mildly funny video about Obama being a President-in-Training.

Truth So Funny, It Hurts To Laugh

It seems to me that comedians who focus on politics have taken the anti-New York Times approach. They poke fun at the news that's NOT fit to print. And my guess is, some comments are not fit to print because they can be considered hurtful or maybe even inappropriate.

But, for the most part, I have also noticed how some comedians are careful to draw the line and not go too far with potentially offensive comments. They stick to comedy that they feel safe making fun of. This can be seen in a few examples. Black comedians are able to push the envelope further when discussing race and politics, when it concerns Sen. Obama. Comedian Chris Rock's appearance on Bill Maher is a prime example of this. Maher appears to set the stage by making racial jokes and then quickly throws in a "just kidding," at the end (probably because he wants to be funny for the moment and doesn't want to leave a lasting negative impression). Maher sets Chris Rock up for some racially driven comedy. After all, no one will call Chris Rock a racist if the throws jabs at Sen. Obama regarding his race.


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Chris Rock delivers funny lines. He jokes that his father always told him, "you can't beat white people. You can only knock them out." Chris Rock is also careful not to deliver any punch lines that could be overly offensive to whites. The toughest thing he says about Palin is, "Vanessa Williams has done more interviews promoting Ugly Betty than she's done to run for Vice President of the United States."

Sara Silverman takes an interesting approach to comedy, politics, and culture. She is a sarcastic comedian with what some might call a potty-mouth. However, she uses her Jewish heritage down get down and dirty with comedy, all while promoting her presidential pick.



"If Barack Obama doesn't become the next President of the United States, I'm gonna blame the Jews," says Silverman. Now, I ask you who else could get away with saying that? A bible toting Christian could not and neither could a follower of the Koran without being considered antisemitic.

One thing has also become clear to me - candidates cannot make jokes about their opponents on areas not related to policy. Sara Palin certainly felt the heat when she attempted a joke about the old age of Joe Biden. And Joy Behar, a non-Palin supporter and comedian jumped all over this comment because she did not find it funny.




Those who resemble the candidates in some form or fashion have the easiest time coming down hard on them. It's as if they are saying, hey McCain, hey Obama, I am like you. It’s okay, by making fun of you, I am making fun of myself too!

"I'm Not Going To Take Any Of Your Questions"

"You know, I'm Not Going To Take Any Of Your Questions," said the real-life Gov. Palin on Saturday Night Live. Boy, Palin...I thought this was about acting, not your everyday life?

Gov. Sara Palin Visits SNL

Wow!...They Endorsed Who?

And so the firsts just keep coming... I guess it is only fitting that a historical first in a presidential election brings about other historical firsts. But, either way, I must admit that I found the recent endorsement of the Chicago Tribune and LA Times surprising.

Interestingly enough during the third and final presidential debate Sen. Obama referenced the Chicago Tribune as being a traditionally conservative publication. Well, that publication certainly parted with its conservative tendencies with this statement published Friday....

"On Nov. 4 we're going to elect a president to lead us through a perilous time and restore in us a common sense of national purpose. The strongest candidate to do that is Sen. Barack Obama. The Tribune is proud to endorse him today for president of the United States," proclaims the editorial board.

The Chicago Tribune published a rather moving and inspiration piece, citing reasons to assure the voting public of why Obama is the better option for the President of America. The Tribune used rather strong language to declare why they believe that neither Sen. McCain or Gov. Palin are ready to take over the Oval Office.

"McCain failed in his most important executive decision. Give him credit for choosing a female running mate--but he passed up any number of supremely qualified Republican women who could have served. Having called Obama not ready to lead, McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. His campaign has tried to stage-manage Palin's exposure to the public. But it's clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment's notice and serve as president. McCain put his campaign before his country," writes the Tribune Editorial Board. "Obama chose a more experienced and more thoughtful running mate--he put governing before politicking. Sen. Joe Biden doesn't bring many votes to Obama, but he would help him from day one to lead the country."

Now, I wasn't as moved by the language used in the LA Times Endorsement of Barack Obama. But, I did find this statement about McCain interesting. "His selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate was, as a short-term political tactic, brilliant. It was also irresponsible, as Palin is the most unqualified vice presidential nominee of a major party in living memory."

I too initially thought that McCain proved to be very clever in the selection of his Vice Presidential pick. However, I soon learned that it was only clever on the surface. Beneath the facade, I found Palin to be very green. I say this even though, I am a person who very strongly believes that wisdom and foresight do not always go hand and hand with age. While, some lessons and values must be learned through first-hand experience, I believe whole-heartedly that most valuable qualities are innate.

What I find most interesting about the election is that it's as much about politics as it is about one's personal belief system. Whether one takes notes from the endorsers of Sen. McCain or Sen. Obama, the voting public has some very tough questions to ask themselves come this election day. So come the morning of November 5th, we have more than just a new leader, we have a sense of the America's core belief system as a whole.

Joe The Loser

Yeah, that's right. Joe is a loser. And now that I know just how much of a loser this man really is, I am upset that I had to spend so much of my Wednesday night hearing about him.

"Turns out that the man who was held up by John McCain as the typical, hard-working American taxpayer isn't really a licensed plumber. And court documents show he owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes," according to an Associated Press article published in the Republican American.

And not only does Joe not pay his taxes, he does not pay attention either. He watched the debates and still did not fully understand Obama's plan after listening to him break it down.



Joe taped this interview right after watching the debates at home. He said that he does not see Obama's tax plan helping him. However, he said that McCain's plan is "ultimately really good." Really Joe? Is McCain better suited to help someone in your position or did you just down a six pack of cold ones? When did the Republicans become associated with helping low-income tax evaders? One would have a better chance of being helped if they were a wealthy tax evader. Who is going to give Joe Wurzelbacher a loan to purchase a business, priced over $200,000, when he cannot even pay his outstanding tax debt? "Court records from his divorce show that Wurzelbacher made $40,000 in 2006," according to an article on msnbc.com. Better yet, who is going to give the near bankrupt financial institution money to even consider making such a risky investment?

Now before I get carried away, let me say that I understand that not everyone is privileged to have an education or proper job training and licensing. These people are not bad people - by no means.

So being that McCain wants to help Joe keep his wealth, I wonder if that applies to negative balances as well. It must. Remember, Joe there will be no spreading of wealth in a McCain administration - so don't bank on plunging any cash into your savings account or having enough money to flush down the toilet!

If I Only Had Popcorn!

Finally a great debate! I really enjoyed the final debate between Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain. I felt like I was in a movie theater watching a comedic drama. It was amazing. Although, if I were actually in a movie theater - I may have been thrown out. I spent a good deal of the debates laughing hysterically out loud about McCain's facial expression and texting my sister Shawn and my classmate Courtney about them.

Bob Schieffer was by far the best of the three moderators that oversaw the presidential debates. He asked the burning personal questions that have made headlines, but have not been formally addressed.

I was also glad that John McCain grew a bit of a backbone during this debate. He stated firmly that he was not George W. Bush. He finally addressed the elephant in the room (Sen. Obama) who he had noticeably and rather uncomfortably avoided communicating with in the past debates. But, I grew rather tired of his inability to speak eloquently and his incessant blinking!

Sen. Obama was cool and collected. It was very much business as usual. Although, I was disappointed in the miscalculation of how many negative ads that the McCain campaign ran.

I don't think this debate was a game changer. Well...at least not for me. I enjoyed it and for the first time I heard some new questions being fielded at these very familiar candidates. Generally, I feel as though I can answer on behalf of both of the candidates because I am so used to their talking points. But, finally I got a little bit of freshness!

Not Losing Any Sleep Over Him

Rush Limbaugh will not get much of my time or energy. He is not worth it. I am not shocked or disheartened by his outrageous comments about black people being angry and hateful. However, he should look in the mirror and realize that by making such remarks and whole-heartedly believing them (I am willing to bet) he is just as angry and hateful as the people he attacks.

Now, like most Americans - black, white, and occasionally blue in the face, I too denounce the actions and comments of Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers. However, how can Limbaugh fix his mouth to say that black parents and children are perpetuating hate? He has gone way over the line. It is no secret that many strides have been made in terms of race relations in this country. It is also no secret that racial equality may be an intangible notion. And until one is on the negative receiving end of such inequalities, all of the empathic efforts in the world will not suffice as genuine understanding.

Rush Limbaugh seems to be in the business of associating terrorism with anything that is not white American. He makes claims across the board that negatively affect many groups. A claim has been made by Sen. Obama that Limbaugh has contributed to the rise in hate crimes against Hispanics. Rush Limbaugh stirs things up in a negative fashion constantly and I don't want to tolerate it, just as I don't want to tolerate any other hate induced speech or actions. There are many Americans who engage in despicable acts, who aim to spread hurt and hate across state and international boarders. They have to be taken as bad individuals - not poster children for the racial or religious groups that they belong to. Let's say that we were to do this - draw connections from one bad apple to the entire apple farm. Then we would have to classify white American males as having the potential to conduct terrorist activity in America. After all white American, Timothy McVeigh launched the deadliest act of terrorism in the United States before the September 11, 2001 attacks. But, in a fair and just America making this generalized statement is wrong. And what's good for the goose, is good for the gander.

"You ever ask yourself how it is that people not even born here can come here and in a few short years begin prospering in school, their own business or what have you, yet people who are born

in this country somehow have been raised to hate it, to think they're still back in the days of slavery," asks Rush Limbaugh. Well maybe he should ask himself why one who claims to be an upstanding American would dish out such broad unjustifiable notions of hate, while simultaneously claiming to oppose it?

So let's all ponder the question posed by this Time Magazine Cover....

Last Call For Alcohol

So it's Saturday night at the bar. The dj has just announced that it's last call. So what do you do?Gather up your jacket and move it to the exit? Well, not if you are John McCain. He can't go home without one major effort to make an impact on the crowd. It's been a long night. He's stiff and he shows it. But, after striking out twice, everyone American knows what comes next. Three strikes and your out! John McCain does not want to strike out in the presidential debates for the third time in a row.

John McCain has to bring out the big guns. He has to go out blazing. He has been talking tough lately, telling a Virginia crowd "after I whip his you-know-what in this debate, we're going to be going out 24/7." But, can he back up this tough talk? Well, I am willing to bet that he is certainly going to try, especially now that Obama has 14 point lead on McCain in the national polls.

So what will McCain do tonight at last call, the final debate before the American public? Is he going to attempt to counter what Americans are saying in polls across the country? He is going to try and show that he is able to handle the problems of a slumping economy. This effort can be seen in his $52.5 billion economic-relief plan, which he introduced in the nick of time on Tuesday. I believe that McCain will also try to re-air, what some may consider dirty laundry. I am sure that he will introduce pasta that never quite stuck to the wall in Obama's campaign kitchen. Things such as the psycho paster and the former-terrorist acquittance are all bound to make their way into the light - I am sure. But, Obama says he is ready for McCain's likely dirty attacks. He also says that he will stick to the issues, a method which has rewarded him greatly thus far.

So, it will be interesting to see what happens tonight. I will also be looking for Sara Palin. I wonder if she will be on hand to support her running mate after the debate, instead of other fellow Republicans...

Railroading Politics

I have no idea where this image originated. But, I get a kick out of Sara Palin's train translation.

Does Palin Vs. Clinton Matter?

I wonder why everyone is comparing Sara Palin to Hilary Clinton? Maybe it's because we just need someone to compare her to. I mean, Hilary's name will not be found on any one's ticket come this November 4th. So why are we doing it? Why are we comparing this these two women?

Well, I believe the answer is rather simple. Sen. Clinton won over voters across the country. She was able to go farther than any woman has gone before in terms of a presidential election. And then, out of no where, also known as Alaska, here comes Gov. Palin with a realistic possibility of stealing Hilary's thunder and making history.

So it appears that many Americans are wondering would Sara Palin have been strong enough to wage the war for female presidential candidates? Well, I think the vast majority of the voting public has decided that she would not have had what it would have taken during the primaries to create a name for herself. It's kind of like how Jessie Jackson didn't have what it took to be considered seriously for the first black presidential nominee years ago.

One poll found that women would vote for Sen. Clinton 2-to-1 over Gov. Palin were the 2012 election to be held today. The poll finds that women across the country are more inclined to trust Sen. Clinton over Palin. Why? Is it because Palin has been cited and found guilty in the Troopergate investigation. I think it's more than just that. The American voters want someone who is tested and trusted. Sara Palin just has not proved her self. Although, I am sure she can walk a mile in high heels. She wouldn't last 20 minutes in Sen. Clinton's flats.

Is She Still Popping Pills?

I was almost as confused as Cindy McCain looks pictured in this photo when I read about the statement she made Tuesday, in the Huffington Post.

She must be joking! She can't really believe that Sen. Obama has "waged the dirtiest campaign in American history." Is she thinking clearly? Is she feeling as ill as Sen. McCain looks? I wonder is still secretly popping prescription pills?

The McCain campaign and those associated with them should really watch the comments they make. They are spewing out false statements as uncontrollably as one with loose bowels. Hey, I am sorry I had to go there. But, are Sen. McCain, his wife, or his running mate, who "streches truth," according to an Associated Press article, sorry for the tall tales that they deliver with such promise? Even Sen. McCain's opponent-turned supporter, Gov. Romney said during the primaries that the Republican presidential nominee candidate took "a sharp detour off the straight-talk express," distorting truths in an attempt to win votes. In a Fox News report Romney even went as far to say that Sen. McCain employed the "dirty tricks" of the Nixon-era campaign.

An article published in Time Magazine in September, entitled John McCain and The Lying Game, notes that while loose-wording and the light-stretching of facts are often common in politics across the board, John McCain has pushed the envelope to the extreme. "McCain's lies have ranged from the annoying to the sleazy," writes Joe Klein.

So with fellow politicians, current supporters, and journalists calling John McCain out on his lies - Cindy McCain should watch it. Because it appears to me that one of McCain's many homes, just so happens to be...a glass house!

Rove Said What?

Karl Rove's stomach must have been churning as he gave his projection that Sen. Barack Obama would win the Presidential election (were Americans to vote now) one month prior to the actual election day.

However, he is careful to note that this race is still close. I wonder why he would admit such information to the public? Most notable political figures would do their absolute best to spin a political situation to the advantage of their supporting party. Is he saying this as wake up call to the McCain campaign? Does he think that they should seek his help in the final hour?

(Rove.com)

On Rove.com, the master mind behind the George W. Bush campaign, writes "39 new state polls released in the first three days of October have given Barack Obama his first lead over the magic number of 270 since mid-July."

I don't get it. Are we now supposed to take Rove's political analysis seriously? This is not to say that he cannot produce valuable insight. But, I am still left wondering what his hidden agenda is. He must have one right?

"Say It Ain't So Joe!"

took a nap, but made sure to set my alarm clock so that I would not miss the debate between Sara Palin and Joe Biden. Honestly, I was watching, hoping to get what I call a two-for-one. I was hoping that I could get a dose of comedy, along with politics. But, I didn't get quite what I was looking for.

Well, one thing was certain, not only was Sara Palin treated like a lady - she acted like a brat. She answered only the questions that she wanted to answer, all the while claiming to give the Americans straight talk. Biden chose not to attack Palin directly and instead went after Sen. McCain. He was very kind and polite to Palin, who simultaneously claimed to be a Maverick and a Washington newcomer. Is it possible to be both?

I felt like I was sitting at a high school lunch table, while listening to Palin during the debate. She spoke in a language that was not quite universal, one that was really meant for Joe 6-pack and hockey moms. I mean the woman even gave shot outs! WTF? I mean really...could it have been anymore high school with the winking, forced smiles, and the batting of the eyelashes? She comes off as a girl who is running for class president, promising to throw the best parties, complete with beer and rifle shooting contests. She seems to lack the seriousness that we so desperately need in today's world!

Saturday Night Live did an excellent job at poking fun at all of the participants in the debate, including Gwen Ifill. But, it appears that NBC is putting the whammy on you tube getting credit for Tina Fey's genius. I was redirected from you tube to the NBC suit for the SNL VP President Debate Skit.

Back Out? For What?

Gwen Ifill should not back out as moderator. That is unless we think that because she is a woman, she will automatically side with Gov. Palin. No? So what the real problem then?

This notion of siding with someone like you is really beginning to annoy me. Why should it be assumed that women will automatically favor women, African Americans will automatically favor African-Americans, and the rich will automatically favor the rich? What ever happened to going beyond the surface to support one whose ideals most closely match yours?

Ifill was the moderator of the 2004 Vice Presidential Debates. So why should she back down in 2008? Because she has written a book to highlight the accomplishments of select African Americans in Politics? It is not as if she wrote a book urging Americans to vote for Sen. Obama. Jim Lehrer, who moderated the Presidential Debates, has written various books on politics as well. No one suggested that he back down because he has put some on his personal political views on paper - granted he did not specifically mention any candidates in books. But, where do we draw the line? Ifill knows first-hand how unfair biased can be. As an intern at the Boston Herald, she received a note saying "n——r go home,” according to an article in Time Magazine. One has to experience biased first-hand to truly know how disheartening it can be. Now, I cannot speak on behalf of Ifill nor can I say what lessons she has learned. But, I am willing to bet that she is fully aware of this notion.

Find me one woman who is not elated that women are finally being taken seriously in the world of politics. Find me one African American who is not thrilled that an African American has a real chance at becoming the first African American President. Is that grounds to eliminate them from any formal participation in the presidential race?

Forget Acceptance Speech, Lets Talk Eulogy

I have yet to figure out how I feel about this article in the Republican American, which projects the life expectancy of John McCain - it also throws projections of Obama in for good measure. I mean...to me...the article states the obvious - the older one is, the more likely they are to have failing health. So based on the calculations of an actuarial company, Sara Palin will increase her likelihood of becoming the first female president with every year - duh! There is a one-in-four chance that she will claim the chair in the Oval Office during a second term (if the duo is elected).

But, this article ignites a burning question - Does one vote against a running mate? With the overwhelming amount people coming out of the wood work to oppose Palin, I wonder if people will begin casting votes to rid themselves of her. Palin's approval rating in Alaska is dropping. Conservatives are pondering whether Palin should be pulled from the ticket. And even Tina Fey is over her. "I want to be done playing this lady Nov. 5," Fey told the public. But, she's not the only celeb up in arms about the gun-toting VP pick. Matt Damon says Palin on the ticket is like a "really bad Disney movie" in an interview.




For the first time I am beginning to challenge the notion that bad press is good press. In this case, I think it is furthest from the truth. People do not want to hear about Palin churning out the same key phrases. And I ask you, could she have been any more vague in her answer in regards to what newspapers she reads?