Because Obama, er, the Messiah, will fix everything.

What in the world?

This seems contrary to everything he stands for! Why else would I spend hours making my own baked beans when I could simply open a can of them? Why did I spend an entire afternoon drilling and chopping coconuts with the goal of making a coconut cake from scratch when I could simply bake a boxed cake mix or buy a cake at the store? Alton Brown was the reason! He has preached to me about avoiding the pre-packaged and the bland for years. He taught us that with a little extra effort, you can enjoy something grand! This is the last thing Alton should be endorsing.

Miller Lite is a horrible beer that I would never serve to guests, much like a store bought apple pie. The very idea of adding Miller Lite to a "Holiday Feast" is an insult to whatever holiday you might be celebrating. 

I realize that everyone has their price, but this particular endorsement is a betrayal to his fans and his profession. How embarrassing. Someone get me a beer. No, I mean a real beer. 

The last two Presidential elections have caused friends and family of mine to declare, "If Bush wins I’m taking my family and leaving the country." Most of the time, the preferred destination was Canada, due to the liberal social policies, the language, and of course the fact that Canada is adjacent to the United States. If one is dodging the Bush family or the draft it’s a natural fit. Unfortunately, the elections were years ago and no one made good on their promises. Same thing goes for several stars in Hollywood that pledged to leave if Bush was elected. Turns out all these people were bluffing. Too bad, because they will all most likely be voting in the current election. A few less votes for Obama would have been a good thing. 

Given that this country is about to elect someone who wouldn’t be able to get security clearance if appointed to a post at the White House, I’m considering leaving the country as well. I’d also like to get out before the next great depression, and Obama is promising fiscal policies in the same neighbourhood as the mistakes the U.S. made right before the original Great Depression. The writing is on the wall. When choosing a new location, there doesn’t seem to be a natural fit close by. The liberal social policies that attract America’s libtards to Canada are more of a deal breaker in my case. I don’t think the politics of Mexico are all that great either. In addition, my Spanish is on par with the average two year old from Finland. Mexico has sunny weather, but it can’t be that great if there are millions of Mexicans sneaking into America.

Anyone have any suggestions as to where I should make my new home? I know you can easily shoot back with suggestions of hell or someplace up your arse, but that’s not very helpful. Is there a conservative country on the planet? If not, I think we will need to pool our money and purchase an island.

With all the recent gushing over Obama the Messiah, it’s refreshing to see another perspective in print. The object of ridicule here is Obama’s politics, which is a welcome departure from the steady stream of personal attacks. 

For months it seems, the battle has been about Obama’s qualifications and his suspect personal associations. I haven’t heard much criticism about Obama’s plans for this country. Perhaps all these distractions end up benefiting Obama in the long run. One thing I don’t think we need to worry about is Obama not accomplishing anything. With the Congress controlled by Democrats, the plans WILL be enacted. 

More and more this is looking like a cake walk for the Messiah. If Obama does not win, I still stand by my predictions of riots and other forms of uncivil unrest. The people want their "change" and to prove on an international stage that the U.S. is not a nation of racists. Additionally, by electing a president who looks like an African American, all us white folk can unload a bit of the guilt we carry around.   

This video is explores a subject that should have been brought up a thousand times already by Obama’s opposition. However, I doubt that most Americans are aware of situations in Kenya, and even less on how they relate to the current presidential election in the United States. The press of course is going to look the other way on this subject, but I do have to wonder why this isn’t at least a talking point among the Republicans. I’m convinced that the Republicans are throwing this election so that the Democrats can have control of the mess that is the United States in 2009 and beyond. The video doesn’t make the Obama connection until near the end, but I think the background information is needed to give this association some context.

Belmont University? The very mention of Belmont reminds me of the NCAA basketball tournament and the wonderful slate of first round games. Go Bruins!

This is the second of the presidential debates and will be conducted in the “town hall” format. The audience has agreed to be polite, with no cheering, booing, snickering or projectile vomiting.

Question #1 What is the government going to do about the economic crisis? Whatever happed to the “Ask not, what your country can do for you” mentality? Obama gave his usual answer, but McCain is hatching a horrible plan to “do something” about home values. Hooray! McCain has become a socialist. Where in the constitution does it say that the Federal government has the right or authority to “do something” about the price of anything?

McCain loses me again with the complaint about greed on Wall Street. Since when is greed on Wall Street a bad thing? I suppose there’s no room for green in the new socialist regime.

Looks as though Tom Brokaw has one of those Live Strong yellow bracelets. Why not just give the dollar to the charity and don’t worry about the stupid bracelet? Do you really need a badge of your incredible philanthropic gesture?

Rescue package? You had to change the name because the American public wasn’t approving of the “bailout”? I’d love for them to move along and pick another topic. Both McCain and Obama helped to create this mess, so I’d rather they not  “do something”. Peter Schiff pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter.

Question: Why should we trust you two goons with our money?
Answer: We should not. All we have to do is look back at their votes in the Senate. Neither seems to have a problem emptying the federal coffers. 

McCain has been “reaching across the isle” his entire career. Drink once.

Thankfully, tonight’s debate drinking game does not include any rules about “dependency on foreign oil”.

A question about sacrifice! I can hardly believe my ears. Only the people from the Greatest Generation can come up with a question like that. Obama says that we can sacrifice by conserving energy and through volunteer service. Yes, that will totally help with the current economic crisis. Attacking the evil oil companies will also help.

What is all this about tax cuts for big business? American corporations shouldn’t pay ANY taxes. Where did this idea come from, and why does it get repeated again and again? If Wal-Mart is paying $50 million in taxes, then guess what? They simply pass that cost along to the consumers. Sure, go ahead and tax the hell out of the big oil companies, and we all will pay for it at the pump.

Tax plans? Too bad there’s no one on the stage pimping the Fair Tax.

Tax cuts? Looks like we are about to have a pissing contest about tax cuts.

What about the environment? What about Green Jobs? Sure, the government will create millions of green jobs because we need them. The free market just doesn’t care about green jobs. Only the government can create green jobs. Only the government can come up with alternative fuels. Is there no question that these guys will not reject? The Federal government is not in the business of job creation, green or not.

McCain voted against alternative energy 23 times? I’m sure it was that simple. The question before the Senate was, “Should we look into solar power?” Obviously McCain would be against solar power and all forms of alternative energy because he’s a total idiot.

McCain keeps saying things like “earmarks” and “pork barrel spending” as if those terms are buzzwords among the average Americans. You say you keep fighting against earmarks, but we really don’t care, John. It’s nice that you do, but we’re just not feelin’ it buddy.

The question on the floor now is health insurance. Obama takes the question first and attacks some part of McCain’s plan involving taxing health insurance premiums or something. I think Obama missed a great opportunity there to talk about his own plan. Perhaps he assumes we’ve all been to his web site and understand Obamacare. That was a softball question that should have been knocked out of the park.  OK, on the follow-up Obama hits his stride and lays out some specifics.

This is insane. McCain is simply too old to be our president. There. I said it. How in hell did the Republicans nominate this guy? I was saying the same thing about John Kerry in the last election cycle. I simply did not see any way that Kerry would have been elected. After watching an hour of McCain I cannot envision him in the White House. There have been several opportunities for McCain to seize an issue and take the side of the American people, such as the bailout, errrr, rescue, but McCain voted for the bailout instead. The American people were NOT for the bailout. Given the chance to distance himself from the Bush administration, and be an actual maverick, McCain chose to back the White House. Looks to me as if McCain is just too stupid to be our president. I thought the selection of Palin has his VP was inspired, and was enough to put him over the top. Now, I don’t think anything or anyone can save his candidacy.

The exchange about Pakistan went on far too long, but it’s interesting the both candidates can easily go get Bin Laden whenever they want.

Obama’s closing remarks were much better than McCain’s and I seriously doubt McCain won any new voters this evening. My own personal dislike for Obama got in the way a few times when Obama refused to stay within the framework of the debate format. I guess Obama feels that whatever he has to say is far more important than anything else. Obama, would you please stop talking now? Your two minutes have turned into five minutes. “But this is important.” Yes, Obama you are so very important and also an ass.

This whole election is a train wreck.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/10/vp_debate_snl_s.htT

Good stuff.

This debate should be nothing short of fair. The moderator, Gwen Ifill, has a book coming out soon, "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama". I wonder if she has a candidate she favors?

9:03  “Can I call you Joe?” Sarah, I think you mean MAY I call you Joe? Sorry. Pet peeve.

How about, “Can I call you ‘Hair Plugs?”

There it is. First soccer reference by Palin. Drink twice. For future reference, every hockey reference requires the viewer to drink only once.

Biden seems to have a problem with his right eye. It’s almost closed. Has it always been that way, or has he taken a left hook there recently?

Uh, oh. Palin just winked at me. It’s either that or her spiked bangs are poking her in the eye. Looks like it’s IN her eye. Every time she blinks the bang moves. I can’t stop looking at it.

McCain can win the election right here in the first ten minutes of the debate. The issue right now is the issue of the day; the bailout. If Palin reveals that McCain has reversed his position and sided with the American people on this issue, the race is over. This is the issue that would provide separation between the candidates and I believe the American public is solidly against the handout, er, bailout. Sadly, McCain is for the "rescue operation" and so is Obama.

McCain voted 477 times to raise taxes? I knew there was a reason I thought he was the worst of all the Republican candidates.

9:15 We have moved into class warfare. Biden’s grandfather was an executive at Standard Oil, but he would like you to believe he’s really from the blue collar crowd. I can tell he’s serious now because the eye has opened up a bit.

9:18 Seems as though Palin’s voice is crackling just a bit. She looks a bit rattled already. Oh, snap! She she just went through the health care issue by saying it’s a bad idea to let the Feds run anything. She was smiling about it even before the words came out. The audience was silent. I don’t think either candidate is going to get a laugh tonight.

9:20 Biden name drops Scranton. You know, where the common folks live?

9:21 Point to Biden. He coaxed a laugh from the crowd with the Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere line.

9:22 Palin is smiling again, with her story of “up there in Alaska” where she took on the big oil companies. Biden has a wonderful smirk.

9:25 Palin loses a point for saying she’s going to do something about the greed on Wall St. In that case, I’d say greed is good. Greed is what fuels the economy. If people weren’t greedy and trying to get rich we wouldn’ be, um, America.

9:28 Biden says something crazy. The gub’ment should be able to adjust the amount you owe on your house? NO! The feds need to stay out of our business, not tinker with our debts and take them over for us.

9:30 Palin gets in a East Coast blast. I don’t quite understand it, but it was something about letting the western states and their energy producing capabilities.

9:32 Climate change. Man made climate change. Biden knows that the humans are causing it. I take a quick look in the mirror to see if my smirk is looking good this evening. Indeed. It will take 10 years to get a drop of oil out of a new well? What year is this, 1650? I’m guessing that the oil companies can cut that time by about 9 or so years. Where do they get this stuff? Both candidates are all about the alternative fuels. Who isn’t? Move on. Now they are going to argue about clean coal.

9:36 Same sex benefits. Biden’s answer is predictable. I know his position and Obama’s position on the matter. I think Palin has an opportunity here to score some points. She can let us all know that personally she’s against such things, but yet she’s tolerant. I think this is still an issue among many Christian voters.

[edit] Obama says he opposes a constitutional ban on gay marriage.

Obama says he would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Yes, sounds like he’s completely against gay marriage. * rolls eyes*

9:39 I think Biden just said that he does not support gay marriage, and neither does Obama. What? I’ll have to look into that, because I could just about swear that Obama supports gay marriage. In fact, his early fundraising was in large part from the gay community from what I understand. Looks like the gays to not have a candidate in this race. Shocking. Is Biden just pandering to Christians?

9:43 Palin stabs Biden with his own words about Obama not being ready to lead this country or the military. Too bad Palin can’t show the audience some Youtube videos detailing all the mud Biden was slinging at Obama on the campaign trail. Palin has the advantage of not having run against McCain.

9:46 Biden mentions his mom. Drink twice.

9:47 Biden knows where Bin Laden lives. Would you mind jotting down the address for me? I understand there’s some type of reward for Bin Laden.

9:48 Palin looks uncomfortable once again, talking about Obama meeting with the foreign dictators without some set of pre-determined conditions. I get the feeling that if there was a follow-up question, Palin would not be able to list some of these conditions under which McCain would meet with these leaders.

9:53 Biden lets loose with a whopper. He would not have joined Barack Obama unless he was absolutely sure that Obama would back Israel 100%

9:55 Palin is smiling again. It’s easy to see which portions of her rehearsed speech she enjoys delivering the most. Biden comes alive with the notion that there’s no difference between Bush and McCain. He should hit this point again and again and again.

10:00 Our commanding general in Afghanistan must have said something today. Good thing all of us can quickly look this up. US general urges troop surge in Afghanistan Seems pretty clear to me. Biden said the general says the surge tactics will not work. I guess he doesn’t realize we have the Intarwebs. This link was the FIRST RESULT on google news. It’s not like I had to sift through 50 newspaper articles to find that.

10:07 Palin’s closing remarks on McCain knowing how to win a war was her strongest moment of the night.

10:08 Biden refers to the Bush Doctrine. Bush was about regime change? Sure, well Clinton was about regime change as well. I wonder if Biden voted for the bill officially stating the United States position that Saddam Hussein needed to be removed from power? I know Hillary was for regime change. Here’s her speech from the Senate floor. The Senate voted 77-23 FOR regime change and authorized the use of force, back during the Clinton administration.

10:13 Palin scores again on the school topic. She artfully gave praise to Biden’s wife as a teacher for 35 years, and then turned around and said that No Child Left Behind needed improvement and flexibility. Solid answer.

10:17 Biden says the Dick Cheney was the most dangerous VP ever. That’s something else I’ll have to look into later. Not sure what he’s talking about there. I know the progressives hate Dick Cheney, but I didn’t realize he was the most dangerous VP in American history. Exactly how did Cheney increase his power?

10:20 Biden name drops Wilmington for a second time, and begins his populist stump speech again. Oddly enough, he stumbles right in the middle of it. Come on Joe! I’ve heard you give that speech about 20 times. How could you possibly forget your place? At least these were your own words this time, and not a plagiarized piece like you’ve been busted delivering in the past.

10:23 Biden was very well prepared to point out McCain’s voting record and framing it as though McCain has been against light and oxygen for the American people his entire career. Biden is on a bit of a roll here.

10:28 Palin talks about job creation in a manner that never comes form the Democrats, such as government getting out of the way. This is exactly why conservatives were excited about Palin.

10:31 Biden’s closing remarks include a second reference to the idea this is the most important election of our lives. The neighborhood in which he grew up is also being thrown out again. When you get knocked down, champ… drink three times. I need another beer.

I think both candidates did well, and were prepared and I don’t see a clear cut winner. Both avoided attacking each other directly, and the whole affair was rather polite. I think both sides will be claiming victory here.

They tend to overstate their point a bit, and I hardly feel it’s “McCain to the rescue!”, but their points are mostly valid and at least the pace is rather quick.

Game. Set. Match.

I wanted to see how the Hillary supporters were taking this. Wow.

What a bunch of bitter women. Link to Hillary forum (new window). [ Edit: The Hillary forum was getting bombed with traffic and only registered users may now view their posts.  What I was trying to point out is that all these women felt the Democratic party abandoned them by not putting Hillary on the ticket. The vast majority of these Hillary supporters are now going to donate money to McCain, and vote for McCain/Palin.]

When Hillary spoke the other night, she didn’t exactly throw her support behind Obama. Hillary’s speech consisted of Hillary talking about how far she had come, and how far women had come, and how Hillary made it possible for a generation of young women to dream. Hillary put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, and will go down in history…… Oh, and she supports Obama as well.

Nothing was said about how she got to know Obama over the course of the campaign, or that Obama is a great man, or that Obama will make a great president. Nothing of the sort came out of her mouth.

Hillary said in her speech that McCain, “thinks it’s okay when women don’t earn equal pay for equal work.” That’s obviously a lie, as McCain has never said anything along those lines and has never voted along those lines. His choice for VP just won him the election. Yes, I really think it’s that easy. Game over.

Interestingly enough, Palin has executive experience, while Obama does not. Brilliant choice by McCain. Once the Moms in this country get to know Palin, they will find that Palin represents them better than anyone.