Palin's Solo Debut

So, even on the cotton fluff "deferential" terms under which her first interview was to be granted, Sarah Palin still managed to declare a frightening willingness to go to war with Russia, and a notable ignorance of the foreign policy doctrine of the current Republican president.

And yet, the question as always is, beyond people who actually imagine that a world leader should actually have a handle on basic foreign policy and diplomacy, does anyone else, the majority of the American electorate know or care? Do they maybe somewhat cherish the Capraesque, or even Capra-lite-esque idea of an everywoman taking on the entrenched leadership of the world? The unconscious appeal of ignorance defeating expertise - i.e. the subliminal force behind the appeal of Being There and Dave? And with such a dynamic running for her, doesn't someone - especially an older, established, male member of the dreaded "liberal" media elite - daring to press her for actual positions and causing her to get flustered actually reinforce the desire for those supporting her to see her defeat all those smug know-it-alls?

Which is why Sarah Palin frightens me. She literally embodies the desire of every small town no-nothing or no-little Napoleon to take over the world and make it the way they believe it should be made, as if it were the easiest thing in the world for someone, as long as they're "outside the system". Meaning any legitimate criticism made about her lack of preparedness only amplifies her appeal.

But people do wake up from daydreams eventually. And I don't think it will take them two months to get there either.

Wetting the bed

Whether Obama wins or loses, I'll always have a warm spot in my heart not just for Obama but also for the equally unflappable David Plouffe.

“We’re sensitive to the fluid dynamics of the campaign, but we have a game plan and a strategy,” said Mr. Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe. “We’re familiar with this. And I’m sure between now and Nov. 4 there will be another period of hand-wringing and bed-wetting. It comes with the territory.”

Listening to such focus, the sounds of a clear gaze and someone as preternaturally unshakeable as Obama himself, it's hard not believe they really do have confidence in their approach, as if they have somehow mystically figured a way to float above the fear and the escalating "bed-wetting" going on among Obama supporters, including certainly me, but also including much older, wiser folk who've witnessed a few more presidential campaigns than I have.

But reading his dulcimer tones of sweet, quiet confidence always lulls me back into the closest thing to a peaceful, happy slumber I'm likely to see in the next two months... speaking of which...

Water off a duck's back

I was amazed today watching Obama literally - and quite obviously genuinely - laugh off everything the McCain camp is throwing at him. He really is preternaturally self-composed. It's deeply inspiring to watch. I know everyone wants to see him get rightfully righteous and in McCain's face, Huffington and more writing essays saying exactly that, but I think he realizes that's also what the McCain camp is trying to do, to get into his head before the debates, and he's just beyond giving them that satisfaction. Meanwhile, the press is starting to make a hash of the McCain campaign's non-stop blatant falsehoods and stupid accusations.

And after a fitful but intense night of sleeping and dreaming, I'd let it all go myself by this morning. Since the McCain camp really has gotten well beyond the point of self-parody, I guess the best thing is just to laugh at them, and realize that if the American people are actually going to fall for it again, honestly, after all of the last eight years, then... sigh...

I am going to start making my calls however, next week when we get back from NYC.

You Know and I Know

The problem with reading blogs and agonizing over the politics, esp. God save us just about the ugliest politics ever, namely Presidential politics (is it just going to get uglier and uglier without end?), is that when a politician does something particularly sleazy, it's like YOU know and I know that it's sleazy, but it doesn't make a bit of difference in the larger universe where people are essentially being charged to believe the way their lizard brain wants them to feel - all freakish and paranoid. There's no battling the lizard brain, the lizard brain will make people do all sorts of counter-intuitive and self-immolating things in the name of the lizard brain, and I can safely say that unless Obama has some master plan for simplifying things to their simplest level for the simple folk in this horribly complex land, this ad is the Willie Horton ad to end all Willie Horton ads, down to the pics they pick to make him look like a sicko frickin perv. And I can throw dishese against the wall, scream my lungs out, pull my hair out by the roots, but it makes not one lick of difference, these twisted bastards are JUST DOING THEIR JOB. They don't have souls, souls would get in the way of business and... ew... souls?

And that's where I cease to be able to understand it. It's warfare I suppose, with the notable exception that wars are ostensibly fought - at least American wars - with some sort of tangible positive outcome, fought to achieve some moral good. While these political wars, these twisted ugly ends-unto-themselves, do nothing but mire this country further in the muck, right at the moment when the country can least handle it. Which also means, McCain - who endorses these ads - is so twisted and lost in himself, that... what? Country first, bullshit. No right-minded individual would stir up this negativity if he believed in country first (not that anyone would suspect it was anything but an empty slogan for him in any case.)

But can Obama recover from this? Would the country surprise me and finally turn away from such attempts in disgust? How much faith do I have in my fellow citizens. Not a lot.

Wake me up when it's over

Of course I'm going to vote, but if this is what it's going to be like, if McCain is determined to make this the most disgustingly low-brow Presidential election ever (I realize it's a tough contest) then I have to stop paying attention now. (At least until the debates.)

I just handle this much ugly, it's horrible. I mean, McCain, really? This means this much to you? Really? And what are you going to actually do with this power once you have it? Nothing, not with a congress that won't have thing to do with you. Oh lord, maybe it really is time to leave the country.