Whowunnit?

McCain did better in the debate than I expected, but Obama was stronger in many ways. First of all, Obama’s answers were on topic and articulated more clearly. He tried to follow Jim Lehrer’s repeated admonition to have a dialogue with his opponent rather than address the audience and the camera, but Senator McCain would have none of it. He seemed to be clenching the podium, facing the audience with that creepy, mirthless smile frozen on his face. In fact, McCain’s body language was that of a person strenuously exerting control over his baser instincts, his voice constrained to a stage whisper, while his facial expressions betrayed his true feelings of anger, resentment, condescension and fear. He often rebutted Obama’s statements in a dismissive manner which invariably began with some version of the phrase that “Heh, heh, heh…Senator Obama doesn’t understand…”, while trying to act as if he and the audience were sharing a joke at Obama’s expense. All of his pretensions fell flat in the face of Obama’s informed, succinct and commanding responses.

The McEmperor’s New Clothes-Spin

The transparent maneuvering of the McCain campaign is a 21st century twist on “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.  At first no one would bring up the fact that Governor Palin’s qualifications for the second highest office in the land was woven out of nothingness posing as ”invisible threads”.  The McEmperor “changed his clothes (campaign tactics) almost every hour and loved to show them off to his people”. His tailors (McCain’s all-lobbyist high command ) said, “we have invented an extraordinary method to weave a cloth (choose a VP) so light and fine that it (she) looks invisible. As a matter of fact it is invisible to anyone who is too stupid and incompetent to appreciate its quality.”

“Besides being invisible, your Highness, this cloth will be woven in colors and patterns created especially for you (your ticket).” The McEmperor gave the two men (top advisers) a bag of gold coins in exchange for their promise to begin working on the fabric(ation) immediately.

“Just tell us what you need to get started and we’ll give it to you.” The two scoundrels (con and neocon) asked for a loom, silk, gold thread (money from the RNC) and then pretended to begin working (on finding a credible VP candidate). The Emperor thought he had spent his money quite well: in addition to getting a new extraordinary suit (running mate), he would discover which of his subjects were ignorant and incompetent. A few days later, he called the old and wise prime minister (himself), who was considered by everyone (on the right) as a man with common sense.

“Go and see how the work is proceeding,” the McEmperor  told him(self), “and come back to let me know.” The prime minister was welcomed by the two scoundrels.

      ”We’re almost finished, but we need a lot more gold thread (campaign donations). Here, Excellency! Admire the colors, feel the softness!” The old man bent over the loom and tried to see the fabric that was not there. He felt cold sweat on his forehead (just as he did during the debate).

“I can’t see anything,” he thought. “If I see nothing, that means I’m stupid! Or, worse, incompetent!” If the prime minister admitted that he didn’t see anything, he would be discharged from (or not elected to) his office.

      “What a marvelous fabric, he said then. “I’ll certainly tell the McEmperor (myself).” The two scoundrels rubbed their hands gleefully. They had almost made it. More thread (money) was requested to finish the work.

Finally, the McEmperor received the announcement that the two tailors had come to take all the measurements needed to sew his new suit.

      “Come in,” the McEmperor ordered. Even as they bowed, the two (Rovian) scoundrels pretended to be holding large roll of fabric (Palin’s resume).

“Here it is your Highness, the result of our labour,” the scoundrels said. “We have worked night and day but, at last, the most beautiful fabric in the world is ready for you. Look at the colors and feel how fine it is.” Of course the McEmperor did not see any colors and could not feel any cloth between his fingers. He panicked and felt like fainting (or suspending his campaign). But luckily the throne was right behind him and he sat down. But when he realized that no one (the electorate) could know that he did not see the fabric, he felt better. Nobody could find out he was stupid and incompetent (try keeping that one under an invisible hat). And the McEmperor didn’t know that everybody else around him thought and did the very same thing.

The farce continued as the two (Rovian) scoundrels had foreseen it. Once they had taken the measurements, the two began cutting the air with scissors while sewing with their needles an invisible cloth.

      “Your Highness, you’ll have to take off your clothes to try on your new ones.” The two scoundrels draped the new clothes on him and then held up a mirror (poll). The McEmperor was embarrassed but since none of his bystanders (supporters) were, he felt relieved.

“Yes, this is a beautiful suit (babe) and it looks very good on me,” the McEmperor said trying to look comfortable (creepy smile). “You’ve done a fine job.”

      “Your Majesty,” the prime minister said (to himself), “we have a request for you. The people have found out about this extraordinary fabric and they are anxious to see you in your new suit.” The McEmperor was doubtful showing himself naked to the people (so he kept her in his closet for a month), but then he abandoned his fears. After all, no one would know about it except the ignorant and the incompetent (the republican base who likes Palin because she is “like them”, and who are used to believing in things that aren’t really there).

“All right,” he said. “I will grant the people this privilege (veep press conference).” He summoned his (straight talk) carriage and the ceremonial parade was formed. A group of dignitaries ( McCain’s all-lobbyist high command) walked at the very front of the procession and anxiously scrutinized the faces of the people in the street. All the people had gathered in the main square (cable news), pushing and shoving to get a better look. An applause welcomed the regal procession. Everyone wanted to know how stupid or incompetent his or her neighbor was but, as the Emperor passed, a strange murmur rose from the crowd.

      Everyone (republican base) said, loud enough for the others to hear: “Look at the Emperor’s new clothes (running mate). They’re (she is) beautiful!”

      “What a marvellous train (to nowhere)!”

“And the colors (shades of red)! The colors of that beautiful fabric! I have never seen anything like it in my life!” They all tried to conceal their disappointment at not being able to see the clothes, and since nobody was willing to admit his own stupidity and incompetence, they all behaved as the two scoundrels had predicted.

      A child (progressive voter), however, who had no important job and could only see things as his eyes showed them to him, went up to the carriage.

      “The McEmperor is naked,” he said.

“Fool!” his father reprimanded, running after him. “Don’t talk nonsense!” He grabbed his child and took him away. But the boy’s remark, which had been heard by the bystanders, was repeated over and over again until everyone cried:

      “The boy is right! The McEmperor is naked! It’s true!”

      The McEmperor realized that the people were right but could not admit to that. He though it better to continue the procession under the illusion that anyone who couldn’t see his clothes was either stupid or incompetent. And he stood stiffly on his (straight talk) carriage, while behind him a page (Rick Davis) held his imaginary mantle (of wisdom).

Palin’s “Out of Her League”

First time I’ve ever agreed 100% with a conservative.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/26/palin-should-step-down-conservative-commentator-says/

Nobody Doesn’t Like Sarah P; Just Defrost Before Serving

I’m sorry, but McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate is a joke; a bad, groan-inducing one at that.
How, and more important, WHY would a state official have even a “rhetorical” question about banning books in a library…in America? The librarian’s later dismissal was, of course a coincidence.
As mayor of Wasilla, she was thepart-time executive of one the municipalities most resistant to ending the procedure in which a rape victim must pay for the collection of forensics used in investigating said rape. This in a state where the rate of violent crimes against women is 2.5 times the national average. “Drill, baby drill”, indeed!
Her stand on women’s rights, particularly the right to choose whether to  terminate a pregnancy, is abysmal. Apparently she is governor of AL only with the consent of her husband, the First Dude of backwater, USA. (I bet she used the “love, honor and OBEY” line in her wedding vows.
According to her, the war in Iraq is “A mission from God”. REALLY?!
The “Bridge to Nowhere” debacle, and the facility with which she lied about it does demonstrate that she is in the correct party. You know, the one that represents ignorance, greed and resistance to progress.
She is being shielded from the Press because she will most certainly demonstrate her ignorance of foreign relations, economic principles…hell, you name it. She is one ignorant conservative.