Obama v. McCain, Act I

Before we get rolling in tonight's debate, I've gotta say I'm not impressed with John McCain's call to postpone. In my mind, his retreat to participate was inevitable, and Obama's argument that a president needs to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time had merit. I also agree that there may actually be no better time to hear the two talk about the issues.

Now, after it's all over and I've had to listen to them both for 90 minutes, I reserve the right to follow McCain's lead, reverse course and say the debate never should have happened.

1. 10 minutes till the debate. VT and ice in a glass, and I can't tell you how excited I am to watch this.
2. Here we go.
3. Good opening question --- Obama looks stiffer than I've seen him --- McCain looks relaxed, at least on question #1. He gives a real time answer; Obama gives an opening statement.
4. Senior centers? Politically, is that really the best example of an ear mark you stopped?
5. 20 minutes in - and I'm biased - but McCain looks like he's lived it, and Obama looks like he's read it.
   
6. 30 minutes in - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... oh sorry, I'm awake.
7. This is really meandering: financial crisis to climate change. Guh.
   
8. Another subject: THANK YOU!
9. Obama is getting relaxed and settling in.
   
10. What are those words on the background? What's the point of putting them there if you can't read them.
11. A question for Obama: When is it ok to listen to commanders on the ground, and when is ok to ignore them?
12. Does McCain have a record? Just wondering.
13. 28 minutes to go... woohooo.
14. This is the problem with two Senators running for President, they both slip into Senate speak --- subcommittees, other Senators and bills. No wonder it's been 40 plus years since we've elected one of these "statesman."
15. On a side note, I happen to be sitting next to a WMD... in the form of the gastrointestinal system of a large dog. She's gassin' her own people!
    
16. "I don't even have a seal yet." Ha! Not sure anyone gets that, but I think it's funny.
    
17. There is something very odd about the sentence: "Russia, 2 minutes."
18. The convential wisdom was that this would be McCain's topic of advantage - foreign policy. I think Obama has held his own, as far as his performance.
19. My clock says 10:32... now 10:35... shouldn't this thing be over.
20. McCain advantage with the final word, and he made the most of it. Good closing statement.

McCain started strong; Obama settled in and came back.

Initial reaction: A draw... maybe a slight edge to McCain.

UPDATE: 11:00 p.m.

McCain ad up fast.



Question for McCain's camp. If Obama thinks McCain is right about all these things, shouldn't that make him ready to lead?

That Could Take A While

Was talking with someone today, and what is being billed as the "Financial Crisis of the Century" came up, of course.

We were both discussing how frustrating the news has been to watch and try to follow because the technical details of the financial crisis are so freaking beyond even our college-educated economic understanding. Then, he laid this on me.

Some estimates say the Wall Street bailout could reach as much as $1 trillion.

If you or I set out to spend $1 a second, it would take us 31,709 years and 292 days to spend $1 trillion.

That clears it all up.

You've Been Warned

Vote for Palin... or I'll poke you in the eye with the sharp corner of my pop-up book!

Some Phot-Os

As Saturday Night Live has made famous the call for more cowbell, so too have family members been consistent in their calls for more O.

Fall is probably my favorite time of year, but it also seems to be the busiest. Mr. has also been busy with a birthday party for a classmate, the making of slime, some heavy reading, political activism and a trip to the orchard for some apple picking. It's all simply too much to convey through pictures in one post, so, please find to your left a new slidesh-O depicting the latest in the life of Mr. O.

Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

2008 National League Central Division Champs

When reached for comment, Mr. O said, "I've been here two summers, two division titles for the Cubs. You do the math."

Rest Easy, Son

Ooops.

Fed Takes Control of AIG With $85 Billion Bailout

Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government took control of American International Group Inc. in an $85 billion bailout to prevent the bankruptcy of the nation's biggest insurer and the worst financial collapse in history.

Buddy, we're with the taxpayers.

Oh!

Detroit Disgrace

Far be it from me to pick sides in the growing dispute between the superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools, Connie Calloway, and the district's board. Calloway has been on the job for only a year, and it seems that more objective observers have described most of her problems as good faith efforts to dig out from the mess left behind by a long line of less than competent predecessors.

Lawsuits for unpaid textbook bills and an FBI probe come to mind.

Regardless, about all you need to know about the Detroit district and the outright educational abuse and neglect brought on the students of that city each day is to look at the lead figure on the board attacking Calloway.

Reverend David Murray, a Detroit School Board member and leader of a church of 10 people, lost custody of his four children after allegations of abuse, neglect and domestic violence surfaced.

Thursday, school board member Marie Thorton told Local 4 she is introducing a resolution to the board because she is uncomfortable with the reverend having any contact with children.

You can't make this stuff up... and really, why would anyone even want to?

I'm Not Sarah Palin, But I Play Her On TV

There's news this afternoon that Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm will "play" Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in Joe Biden's upcoming debate practice sessions. For Granholm, the once aspiring actress, this could be a very challenging role indeed.

As the Free Press notes:

Granholm went to a Hollywood acting school and appeared once on ''The Dating Game'' TV show. She later decided to go to college at the University of California-Berkeley.

Governor Granholm has a unique... I guess "style" would be the best way to describe it. It seems that in all she says in public -- whether a radio interview, press conference or annual State of the State address -- she brings a dramatic effect that reminds you of the pilot episode of one of those TV dramas aimed for NBC, but immediately sent to Lifetime.

Hushed tones, pensive pauses, whispers, winks.

I've never had a one-on-one talk with Governor Granholm, and have often wondered if the same stylings carry over. I'm guessing no. But I can also say that I have never seen a public performance from her that didn't appear so over-acted as to make James Lipton shudder.

Which all makes the pick to play Palin so curious. I can imagine someone smart somewhere thinking, "Granholm and Palin are both young, attractive, dynamic and female. Granholm would be perfect." Alas, authenticity is neither a shared characteristic of their public personas, nor one easily replicated. And, compared to Biden's cocky blowhardedness, Palin's authenticity is likely her greatest strength.

Sarah Palin confidently comes across as a public figure who doesn't have to try to connect. Jennifer Granholm consistently comes across as a public figure who simply tries too hard.

Her selection as Biden's sparing partner (which, by the way, might really be better explained as Granholm's punishment for endorsing Hillary Clinton) begs the question of whether she is a good enough actor to act like a person who is doing anything but acting.

Mr. O, Meet Mr. B

Mr. O loves books. He especially enjoys reading books upside down. And, what's on the reading list tonight?

The "Old Mr. Boston DeLuxe: Official Bartender's Guide," of course.

"Yo Dad, while you're up, I'll have a milk on the rocks... make that organic."

A Message From Mr. O

On this day after Grandparents Day, Mr. O has a special message for his G and G R and Gram, as well as Great G and G VB and Great G R.

Oh heck, and to everyone and everything else... especially big trucks, people at the grocery store and the lawn mower.



HAPPY GRANDPARENTS DAY!

Palin Power

Don't worry, Barack. This can't last. She's only a woman and a former mayor of a town of 9,000.

McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama by 50 percent-46 percent among registered voters, the Republican’s biggest advantage since January and a turnaround from the USA TODAY poll taken just before the convention opened in St. Paul. Then, he lagged by 7 percentage points.

Gotta Love The Fall

It's football time.

To Spoon, Or Not To Spoon

"Baberaham Lincoln"

As recommended by commenter, "BD," Peggy Noonan's Friday column on Sarah Palin is worth every minute today.

Her flaws accentuated her virtues. Now and then this happens in politics, but it's rare. An example: The very averageness of her voice, the not-wonderfulness of it, highlighted her normality: most people don't have great voices. That normality in turn highlighted the courage she showed in being there, on that stage for the first time in her life and under trying circumstances. Her averageness accentuated her specialness. Her commonality highlighted her uniqueness.

More.

Words, Words, Words

The New York Times does a fascinating word count wrap up here. Last night, I mentioned how generally the party/candidate favored to win doesn't feel the need to talk about their opponent and the underdog party/candidate is under pressure to attack, attack, attack. The "McCain", "Obama" counts are interesting, especially when you compare the words chosen by the two candidates themselves. (A more easy to read version at the link above.)

Now...

Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

John McCain

1. It's not, but this video music sure sounds like it's taken from the TV show "Dallas."
2. Not sure the last time a presidential candidate was under pressure to not be outshown by his VP pick.
3. There's Fred's voice again.
4. The person who thought this giant screen and these goofy pictures would play well on TV should find a new profession.
5. A protester.
6. WHAT IS THAT BUILDING ON THE SCREEN? And why should we care?
   
7. Green is gone... thank you. Now, make the silly protesters go away.
   
8. This "We lost their trust..." section is good, and true.
9. So far, he's taking the high road on Obama. He doesn't need to attack. Good move. And, what's odd is that normally the "favorite" takes the high road and the "underdog" goes on the attack. Again, so far, not so.
10. "Drill, baby, drill" doesn't sound any better on day two.
    
11. He never looks very comfortable giving a speech, but in many ways you get the sense that he is very comfortable in his discomfort.
12. Some have said he didn't need to talk about his Vietnam experience, but it's even more powerful first hand.
13. Very little policy in the speech.
14. Those last few minutes is a John McCain I've never seen before.
15. A good speech and solid performance. He's no Barack Obama, but I think that's kinda the point.
    

UPDATE: So, that building on the screen was Walter Reed Elementary School from somewhere in the California. Again, why should we care.

Sarah Palin

1. Here we go. Bet this crowd won't sit any time soon
   
2. She's better at this than most people who've been giving speeches like this for years.
3. Her little daughter is adorable.
4. Just like her introduction press conference... she's warming up and catching a stride.
5. WOW! "Mayor: kind of like a community organizer, only with responsibility."
6. There are tears in the arena.
7. An idea: McCain taps Palin to lead his administration's response to the energy crisis. She knows the issue. She's taken on the oil industry, and can't be accused of being in their pocket (unlike Cheney). She speaks the language. It allows her to play to her strengths and show off her experience on an issue of crucial national importance.
8. She's making Giuliani look like a wimp.
9. At just the right time, she slows with the political jabs and gets serious, and it's very well done.
10. Expectations: blown away.

UPDATE: Ok, now I'm worried. The CNN panel is using words like "grand slam," "star" and "hero."

Rudy Giuliani

1. Still, with the big screen. It looks like he's speaking from a dingy in the harbor.
2. It's take it to Barack night.
3. Rudy just really isn't a great speaker. He's better tonight than when he was running, but still not great.
4. "Drill, baby, drill." Maybe the right policy, not a great mob chant.
5. Shoulda' said: "If they can't even say Islamic terrorists, how will they ever fight them."
6. He sure seems to be going long here, but he is hitting hard.
   

We've Come A Long Way

Or maybe not.

Taken from a longer post here, a stunning passage from the New York Times, circa 1984.

The Times editorialized:

Where is it written that only senators are qualified to become President?...Or where is it written that mere representatives aren’t qualified, like Geraldine Ferraro of Queens?...Where is it written that governors and mayors, like Dianne Feinstein of San Francisco, are too local, too provincial?...Presidential candidates have always chosen their running mates for reasons of practical demography, not idealized democracy…. What a splendid system, we say to ourselves, that takes little-known men, tests them in high office and permits them to grow into statesmen. . . . Why shouldn’t a little-known woman have the same opportunity to grow?. . . .the indispensable credential for a Woman Who is the same as for a Man Who – one who helps the ticket.

That's It!

For going on four days now, I have been utterly frustrated at my inability to articulate the random and often times angry thoughts I've had about the Sarah Palin situation and her treatment since being introduced as John McCain's running mate last Friday.

Yuval Levin has bailed me out.

The ignorant assault on Palin’s accomplishments and experience, the breathless careless airing of deranged rumors about her private life, the staggeringly indecent mistreatment of her teenage daughter in a difficult time, the ill-informed piling on about the vetting process, the self-intensifying circle of tisking nodding heads utterly detached from a straightforward political event, have been amazing and eye-opening.

Read on, and I will put my frustration to rest.

So...

Tuesday night, Bush, Thompson and Lieberman at the GOP convention.

Wednesday morning's New York Times front page headline... hmmmm... "Bipartisanship too far? Palin daughter reveals vote for Gore/Lieberman in 5th grade mock election."

UPDATE: NPR's lead-in to the 7 a.m. news... "Evangelicals react to Palin's daughter pregnancy."

Joe Lieberman

1. A little surreal.
   
2. Oh my! Abraham Lincoln is at the convention... REALLY.
3. Can't say I've ever been a big fan, but Lieberman has guts. Gotta give him credit for that.
   
4. "I'm not Michael Moore's favorite Democrat." I'm guessing he could say that about Barack Obama, too.
5. A few hanging chads go a different direction, this man would likely be in HIS final months as VP. Tonight, he endorses McCain.
   
6. Clapping for Bill Clinton... at a GOP convention. Did I mention surreal?
   
7. Combined with the Thompson speech, a very effective and appealing portrait of McCain.
   

Fred Thompson

1. A full story of John McCain's torture as a POW I've never completely heard before... wrenching.
2. Any speech that mentions moose can't be bad.
3. Fred Thompson's voice and ability to tell a story might be one of the best things the GOP has going for it these days.
4. The huge background screen with photos doesn't play well on TV.
5. "It's pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, 'Who is this man?' and 'Can we trust this man with the Presidency?'" Well said.
   

Shocking

The esteemed panel of presidential historians appearing tonight on PBS's coverage of the GOP convention just compared the selection of Sarah Palin to George McGovern's pick of Tom "Just stick your finger in the socket one more time, Senator" Eagleton.

Yeah, it's about the same.

A Prediction

At some point in the not so distant future, I predict that the phrase: "He/She's been Palined" will be added to the political lexicon.

It will be used in describing the occasion of having one person's career end at the hands of a "journalist" pursuing fame and liberal affirmation in our "24-hour news cycle - 24-second attention span" world.

Can you use that in a sentence, please? Sure.

Sarah Palin is being Palined.

Tradition

One year ago today, Mr. O, Wrigley and I sat for this picture. It is my favorite.

The image was the very first thing that was added to LWMO when I was putting this site together, as it was really the only thing I knew had to be included. It has been a fixture ever since... sitting up in the left hand corner of the page.

While never one huge on tradition... not because I'm against them really, only because I don't have many of them... the three of us sat down again today in an attempt at a little tradition of our own.

Wrigley is her usual stunning self. Brains, beauty and a bouquet of sweet fragrance. I'm continually amazed at how she does it.

Me... that's still me.

Mr. O... what a boy. And what a difference a year makes.

Your new, upper left hand corner, LWMO photo.

Ode To The Weekend Labor Day

Reposted here... at my request, and because this about sums up our day "off."