"Dead Wrong"

Those are the words that Vice President Biden used when he commented on  Darth Vader's Dick Cheney's comments that Americans are less safe today because we aren't hanging terrorists up by their toenails.

As you may have gathered from yesterday's post (Spies Like Us), I am not even remotely in favor of the tacts the Bush Administration took to "secure" our safety. And I am deeply disturbed that Obama's people are not only keeping these tactics available, but are expanding on them. Wiretapping without a warrant and sending people to undisclosed locations does not keep us safer in the end. Not only does it turn people around the world against us and create even more future terrorists, it takes away many of the basic tenants of civil liberty that our country was founded on.

But what is most intriguing about the hubbub around Cheney's and Biden's remarks is the media's response to what Biden said. 

First of all let me set some things straight—Cheney is no longer in office; he doesn't have access to the information to determine what the United States security position is.

Secondly, it is poor cricket indeed for the former administration to be so bold in their criticism this early on in the new administration's time in office. Dubya ain't doing it; his daddy didn't do it, and Clinton didn't do it. There is a time for former leaders to criticize, but it surely isn't during the first 100 days when so much is at stake. While it would appear that Cheney has indeed "gone rogue," it would be nice if someone could reign him in. (Where is a man-eating shark when you need one?)

Finally, even if it were ok for Cheney to be critical at this point, or even later when it would be in better form, there is no need to sound so gleeful about the idea of another terrorist attack on Americans. This man is practically begging someone to do something just so he can be pronounced right. That is disturbing and he just might be even more deranged than I previously imagined.

But back to Biden. Joe's response to Cheney struck me as measured and almost subdued, which is saying a lot for Biden. I mean dude hasn't always been one to watch what he says . . . . This time around, however, I feel like he struck the right tone, respectful disagreement. CNN has more here.

The Right is being critical of Biden's response (of course), as Salon's Joan Walsh details in her blog post and as seen in this MSNBC clip where she debates David Rivkin, who not only thinks that Cheney isn't insane, but also managed to get Joan's name wrong too. Classy. Biden is not the one out of line here. Not even close.

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Plumbing the Depths

To steal a line from my spouse "Bob the Builder is pissed that he wasn't mentioned."

But more on that later.

First, could Grampy McCan't have blinked anymore last night during the first part of the debate. I actually found it rather distracting.

McCain showcased a level of animosity last night that I thought was palpable. I would be curious to know what my undecided or GOP-loving readers felt in that regard. I disagree with Salon editor Joan Walsh's take that he was less grumpy than in earlier debates. I think he was worse actually. 

Obama was his usual cool-as-a-cucumber self, even when the subject of his so-called "terrorist ties." McCain's efforts to put Congressman  John Lewis' statement about McCain's rhetoric on the same level as what the crowds have been shouting at McCain/Palin rallies was reprehensible in my eyes. I don't feel one lick of pity for McCain for being called out on inciting violence in his those demented sorts that show up at his campaign events. Face folks, there are some unstable people out there and McCain has been around the block enough times to know this. To act in the manner that he and Palin have without regard for that fact is dangerous and shameful.

And then there was the incessant references to "Joe the Plumber."  Frankly I thought the first awkward reference to this man by McCain was more than sufficient but to keep hammering at it was ridiculous. How the GOP thinks we can get out of this financial mess without raising someone's taxes is beyond me. I know that isn't what folks want to hear, and apparently Palin thinks paying taxes is unpatriotic, but the simple fact is that without more revenue coming in our country is going to head down shit creek even faster than we already are.

Obama was classy when he had the opening to trash Palin, which I think was a good idea. McCain was a little less kind to his longtime colleague Joe Biden. One of McCain's biggest faux pas of the night, in my eyes, was using the word "cockamamie" to describe Biden. Way to just hand that crotchety old man sign around your own neck Johnny.

Apparently by calling it a night at 10pm I missed the one reference to abortion in any of the three debates, but from what I have read thus far, that didn't exactly work out so well for McCain either.

I am glad that the debates are over frankly, a sentiment that I would imagine the McCain camp shares this morning as well. While the GOP and their FOXNews related sycophants might be spinning the debate this morning to say McCain won, I think the rest of the world knows the truth. 

Can I Call You Joe?

And that is how it all began gentle readers.

Listen, I have never claimed to be unbiased. I am a democrat, plain and simple. So yes, I wanted Palin to go down in flames last night. I admit it. Sadly, she did not. But then again she has been cramming for this one test for more than a month now, even a monkey could have pulled that off without looking like an idiot after that period of time. (Jon Stewart made this point excellently last night prior to even seeing the debate, god bless him, and he managed to mention Balki from Perfect Strangers in doing so, now that's a win-win in my book.)

Which made me wonder last night—who was that woman standing up there? I mean which is the real Sarah Palin? The idiot that couldn't name a magazine she regularly reads when asked by Katie Couric or the relatively smooth tap dancer that we saw last night?

I only made it half way through the debate fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you view these things. (Why the freak can't they schedule these things from 8 to 10 pm? I might stand a fighting chance of staying awake, but 11 pm? Never going to happen folks. But I digress.) The first hour was enough to give me a flavor of things I think. LOVED Palin's giant flag pin—just in case you missed the fact that the Republicans are the patriotic party, she wanted to remind you with old glory waving across her entire chest.

Biden came out swinging, saying that the last eight years have been the worst for the American economy. Way to go for the jugular Joe! Palin countered soon there after with a wink. Sweet Jesus people, she winked! This isn't the Miss Cowpoke Pageant, this is the vice presidential debate!

Another thing that annoyed me is the folksy way she was dropping her g's. I have a way of talking and a vocabulary I use among friends and even in this blog, which would not be what I would consider appropriate if I were giving a speech. Apparently, Mrs. Palin does not have those same rules. I know she thinks it makes her cute and approachable. But it just makes my ovaries twitch. I can see all the progress women have made slip away with every 'darn' and 'back to ya' she says.

Back to Biden. I liked how he explained the energy/oil drilling question. I have read in other places those same figures, we have like 3% of the world's oil and we use 25% of the world's energy. So even if we do drill and get stuff (in the next 10 years mind you) we obviously won't be able to fully supply our needs through that. We have to do other means, whether it is nuclear, coal, wind or solar. And yet, as Biden pointed out, McCain keeps voting against some of those other options. Can anyone explain that one to me?

I know this is getting long winded, so let me wrap it up. During the hour I watched I saw Palin evade at least two questions (actually three if you count the time Gwen Ifill re-asked her a question). So while she didn't have any deer in the headlights moments, she didn't really SAY anything either. She ignored the question about McCain's stance on deregulation (one of the big reasons we are in this banking mess today). And all her spouting of the healthcare tax credit is hooey. Five thousand dollars wouldn't even begin to pay for a health insurance policy for me and my family. Ten thousand might come close. Think about it folks, what are you shelling out each month for your employer-provided plan if you are lucky enough to have one? Two hundred or more a pay period for family coverage? So that's four hundred a month, minimum, times 12. Now math ain't my thing but that comes to an easy $4,800 right there and that is with you not having to disclose any medical conditions. Blue Cross isn't going to be so kind should you be purchasing a plan of your own.

In short, yes she is cute and personable, but she isn't bright enough to be second in command of our country. We have already spent eight years being "lead" by someone who isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. Have we learned nothing?

p.s. What the freak is the Talibani? She said it last night . . .

Desperation . . .

 . . . the world's worst cologne.

Rumors are swirling about McCain's VP pick. Romney is fund raising in California. Minnesota Governor Pawlenty has said it ain't him and supposedly Leiberman is sunning his callow, traitorous backside on some private beach.

But the first term governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, was seen at an airport near to where McCain is set to announce his running mate today in Ohio.

Way to pander to the ladies Johnny boy. What McCain doesn't seem to get is it isn't about having a woman, any woman, on the ticket for most feminists (or at least in this Femi-nazi's humble opinion) it is about having the right woman.

Now that is a foreign policy debate I want to see, Palin vs. Biden. Something tells me it will be a knock out in the first round.

Equal Pay

I forgot to mention in my earlier post about Biden's speech that I was especially impressed by his reference to Obama insuring that women received equal pay. This is an issue near and dear to my heart. In case you weren't aware, women average 77 cents to every dollar that a man earns.

Go ahead and do the math, gentle readers, I will wait.

So how much more would your salary be if only you had a penis? I know the increase I would see. And why? What makes a man more worthy? Is it because he is the "family breadwinner." Not so fast, I work and my husband is a stay at home dad. Is it because he is better educated? Not so fast, I have a masters degree.

There isn't a real reason out there why men today, in the 21st century, are still earning more than women. Women are as qualified, as capable, and as smart as any man. And I just hope that Obama and Biden stick to their guns on this issue.

Bringing the House Down

Bill Clinton does love the spotlight. And boy did he deserve it last night. His speech at the convention was old school Clinton, the reason why I was so inspired by him all the way back in the early 90s as a college student. That man could charm the habit off a nun.

One of my favorite lines of his from the night, and there were many, was:

"people have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power." 

I also like when he alluded to people saying he was too young and inexperienced when he ran, like they are saying with Obama.

John Kerry's speech was none-too-shabby either. The break down of McCain the Senator and McCain the Candidate was good. I thought this was one of the better lines from his speech: "This election is a chance for America to tell the merchants of fear and division: you don't decide who loves this country; you don't decide who is a patriot; you don't decide whose service counts and whose doesn't."

Finally, I thought Biden's speech was good overall, but it didn't seem to have as many lines in it that made me say "right on." That being said, I thought this part of his speech was particularly strong:

Like millions of Americans, they're asking questions as profound as they are ordinary. Questions they never thought they would have to ask:

* Should mom move in with us now that dad is gone?
* Fifty, sixty, seventy dollars to fill up the car?
* Winter's coming. How we gonna pay the heating bills?
* Another year and no raise?
* Did you hear the company may be cutting our health care?
* Now, we owe more on the house than it's worth. How are we going to send the kids to college?
* How are we gonna be able to retire?

That's the America that George Bush has left us, and that's the future John McCain will give us. These are not isolated discussions among families down on their luck. These are common stories among middle-class people who worked hard and played by the rules on the promise that their tomorrows would be better than their yesterdays.

That promise is the bedrock of America. It defines who we are as a people. And now it's in jeopardy. I know it. You know it. But John McCain doesn't get it.

Barack Obama gets it. Like many of us, Barack worked his way up. His is a great American story.

And I did like his Freudian slip saying Bush when he meant McCain. That was classic. 

Now tonight, the main event.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuit

Humor. Check.

Unity. Check.

Patriotism. Check.

Emotional. Check.

Straight talk. Check.

I would say that Hillary Clinton nailed it. "No way. No how. No McCain."

I love how she asked the audience if they were in the campaign for her or for all the Americans who feel invisible. Nice. The shout out to Bill and his ability to balance the budget was nice too—especially the cut away to him smiling. The audience calling out "No" when she started hammering McCain was pretty cool too. And as she got really geared up, she got my blood pumping, the crowd's too and you could see that "you go girl" twinkle in Bill's eye.

My favorite part was towards the end though, and it was what pulled on my heartstrings:

"My mother was born before women could vote. But in this election my daughter got to vote for her mother for President.

This is the story of America. Of women and men who defy the odds and never give up.

How do we give this country back to them?"

And damn skippy if that crazy, scrappy little elfin Dennis Kucinich didn't give 'em hell. When he said "Are you ready for November?" I really thought he was going to say are you ready to rumble! It was a fitting tribute to the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones, and I have to give it to the little guy, he was on fire.

Wonder what Bill will say tonight? And Biden. Something tells me the gloves will be off.

Matin' Time

I have a confession to make: I may not be as technologically savvy as you, gentle reader, may have believed.

See I tried to sign up Friday for the email alert from the Obama camp about the VP pick. Frankly I just couldn't bloody take it anymore. I hate not knowing things. Although I love a surprise. Go figure.

Well, Friday evening rolled around and no email. I checked several times while we were out at a friend's and before I went to bed. The spouse had heard that it might come in the wee hours of the a.m. He suggested I put the phone on my bedside table—since he suggested it and that eliminated him from mocking me for it, I did just that. I woke up several times in the night and checked the phone. Nothing. So apparently I didn't do something right when I signed up or I did it too late.

I did have an email that arrived about 5 a.m. announcing that Biden was the pick.

So . . . I like Biden. He has a big mouth which I frankly kind of like even if it has gotten him into trouble on occasion. To be crass, he has a good story, raising his sons alone for a while, remarrying an obviously smart woman. And he is ranked the 99th of the 100 senators in terms of wealth. Something that warms the empty coffers of my heart.

If Saturday's speech is any indication, Biden can be the so-called "attack dog" that Obama needs. I LOVE that he went after McCain using McCain's own words. Killer.

Yes, he is an old, white guy who has been in Washington forever. But Obama probably needed to pick someone that could alleviate the whole "he's not experienced" argument. Biden is anything but inexperienced.

So that is my two cents for the moment. We'll see how the convention goes this week.

Biding Our Time

So do you think that the inclusion of Joe Biden in Obama's little jaunt to Florida means he is the VP pick?

Rumor has it we will know today . . .

And dang, dang, double dang. How ill am I that I missed out on Obama's secret stop to my neck of the woods. Alas.

Pick Me! Pick Me!

I know it is late summer and people are hot and bored and just ready for something to break the monotony of the unrelenting heat. (Or am I alone in my quest for something that doesn't resemble living on the ass crack of the sun? And the new fall catalog from Boden ain't helping. Dang the English and their clever interplay of tweed and polka dots.)

So who Obama, and in lesser respect McCain, is going to pick as their VP is garnering a lot of attention and verbiage from the chattering classes. My old standby, Salon, has had some interesting things to say about it. Editor Joan Walsh isn't blown away by the short list that many people are proposing for Obama—Tim Kaine, governor of Virginia; Evan Bayh, senator from Indiana; Kathleen Sebelius, governor of Kansas; and Joe Biden, senator from Delaware. Meanwhile many Clinton supporters are outraged Obama is considering another woman for the position.

While I had really hoped that Jim Webb, in particular, would keep his name in the running, I am not overly worried yet about what Obama is going to do in regards to this decision. So far his campaign has been pretty mistake free and I doubt that any less effort or attention to detail is going into picking a VP. And let's face it people, this is a VP we are talking about, aside from Darth Vader's Dick Cheney's current reign of terror, VP's haven't been know for being of that much import. [My husband joked that the VP should be someone the right REALLY doesn't want as president to insure that nothing tragic befalls Obama, not that I even like to utter that idea.]

McCain's decision has mostly been discussed as a way to bring his campaign some good news, now that the septegenarian has taken to attacking Obama with ads showcasing Britney Spears. Oh lordy. And then there are the tales of faithful water boy Mitt Romney doing all he can to secure the nod. Bless his pea-picking heart.

Any body you would like to see as the candidate's picks (realistic ones please!). I know my husband is jonesing bad for an Obama/Hagel ticket. He loves Chuck Hagel and thinks the party crossover thing would be a slam dunk.