Lipstick On A Pig

This may never happen again but I am going to stand up for Barack Obama. In the business world “lipstick on a pig” is one of those phrases that is overly used to describe trying to make a bad idea or policy look good. Then Sarah Palin tells her lipstick joke. Lastly a few days ago Barack used the lipstick on a pig phrase. And now we a big controversy about what he meant but I honestly don’t think he meant anything by it and simply didn't think it through. As somebody who sometimes has a problem with the English language I can sympathize. (Dare I admit that just yesterday when telling someone that they will have a run for their money it came out as “mun for their runey”?)

I think Barack was simply using a common business phrase but as soon as it came out of his mouth he realized that lipstick now has a new context since Palin’s speech. Oops. What bothers me isn’t that he said it, but the reaction by those who heard him say it. His audience immediately thought it was in reference to Palin and roared in derisive laughter.

Call me naïve but it seemed to symbolize not only the polarization between the two parties but also the downright hatred people are feeling for the opposite party. And the really scary part for America is that it no longer seems as if it is Democrats vs. Republicans but more like blacks vs. whites. In a way, I believe that Obama has set back racial advances for decades. Or maybe all whites have been naïve and the division has always been there but kept underground. Now it is out in the open.

Think about it. Remember this spring how stunned most whites were to hear what Jeremiah Wright was preaching and how we were even more shocked by the cheers and jeers from his church’s worshipers? Then yesterday I receive an email talking about Michelle Obama’s Princeton thesis on black separatists. Black separatists? Wow. And until this election, when have you heard newscasters reporting on how white woman are voting? After 2001 I really felt as if the nation had pulled together as one people. Today I worry we are further apart than in the 60’s.

All this from Barack’s “lipstick on a pig” comment? Yes, I know I am far off from where I started but then again, maybe this country has simply been putting lipstick on a pig when it comes to racial harmony. Now there is a good word – harmony; a pleasing arrangement of parts. That would be nice but, again, maybe I am naïve to think we ever really had it in the first place. And what scares me most of all isn’t who will win the election but how the losing half will react.

MSNBC Shake Up

Did you hear the good news yet? MSNBC finally did the right thing (pun intended) and fired Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as the anchors during political events. Yeah! As everybody but the MSNBC big wigs knew, those two jokers were destroying whatever credibility MSNBC had. It was way past time they were removed from a position of reporting during any kind of political activity because they proved that they could not even try to be fair and balanced.

Their coverage of the Conventions was a farce. I would go to their channels for a minute or two and that was all I could take. It was so awful to watch Olbermann and Matthews try to outdo each other in their devotion to Obama and criticism of McCain. If a guest dared to disagree with them they would go after you tooth and nail with mean spirited sarcasm and abuse. Hell, they went after another MSNBC newsman who didn’t agree with their far left opinions. It was a disgrace to call this reporting and I am sure poor Tim Russert must be spinning in his grave.

While I am at it, I will also admit that I was disappointed with Fox’s coverage of the conventions, too. Sure they might be a bit to the right but they were a lot more fair and balanced than MSNBC. However, my complaint is that they talked too much! Instead of covering the speakers at the convention, the anchors on Fox would talk among themselves. I wanted to tell them to shut up so I could hear what was happening on the convention floor. Instead I simply changed the channel to CNN. I would then flip back and forth to hear their analysts afterwards.

Overall, Fox had the highest ratings during the Republican Convention while CNN was the ratings winner during the Democrat Convention. MSNBC trailed far behind both. The sad truth is if MSNBC’s ratings had been higher then we still might have to put up with Olbermann and Matthews. Luckily no one watched them so good riddance to Keith and Chris as “news” anchors although they will still have their regular shows. So now MSNBC’s foray into having a news station that is “liberal” based has tanked just as every liberal radio station has done before it. You would think they would finally get the hint.

Cindy vs Michelle

In the following article I end with a line about the two potential First Ladies. I said that Cindy McCain looks at her husband with adoration while Michelle Obama looks at her husband with annoyance. I realized it might not be fair to end on a sentence like that without any evidence. Sure there are pictures of Michelle looking lovingly at Barack but there are a lot more where she looks like she just ate something sour. Whereas Cindy McCain almost always looks lovingly at John. As for proof, it wasn't very hard to find examples of each.

Meeting Cindy McCain

Cindy McCain surprised me. I had this image of her in my mind of a younger trophy wife, a rich socialite with houses around the country who at one point had a problem with prescription drugs. My first clue that this wasn’t exactly right was during Rudi's speech when the cameras showed Mrs. McCain holding Sarah’s baby. You could see that Cindy was totally absorbed in that little infant, talking to him and giving him her whole attention.

I then enjoyed the bio shown about Cindy McCain which put her life into an entirely new perspective. In fact, if she had been a Democrat and not a Republican, I bet the tabloids would be racing to crown her the American Princess Di. She is beautiful, blond, rich, thin, classy and spends her life working with the poor and helpless. But since she is a Republican she will be continuously vilified and destroyed in the press.

Oh I forgot to mention her speech. Someone started to criticize how she delivered her speech. I would have agreed, if I hadn’t heard a broadcaster talk about it before she started. Turns out that the GOP speech writers looked for prior speeches by Cindy McCain so that they could tailor this speech to her style. Only problem, she had never given a major speech or really any kind of speech on politics in her whole life!

So once her children left the stage and Cindy McCain stood there alone, mike in hand and knowing that millions were watching her give her first major speech, well, of course she was nervous. Her voice was thin at times and it took her a while to get used to the thunderous applause and the even more overwhelming complete silence as they all looked expectantly at her, waiting for her to speak. How intimidating!

Yet given the same environment and with greater consequences, Gov. Palin had earlier given the speech of her night. No hesitations, no nervousness, the complete opposite of Cindy giving a speech. Both were reading speeches others had written for them but one is a natural and the other appeared more comfortable holding a baby than giving a speech. Wait, that is not fair to Sarah who can do both, take care of her baby and family and give a Vice Presidential acceptance speech with equal aplomb.

But back to Cindy McCain. During this convention I really started to warm up to the woman. I hate her more for being thin and blond then I do for being super rich and wearing $300,000 outfits. (Yes I am being sarcastic.) Heck, if my father had worked hard and lived the American dream and left his entire fortune to me, his only child, and I was a size 2 or 0 you bet I would wear designer clothes (only American, of course!) and gorgeous tasteful jewelry. But like Princess Di, Cindy also leads a life using her money trying to help those around the world who need help the most. Good for her!

Now her husband, John McCain, needs her the most. She might never again take center stage as she did during the convention, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her off to the side of stages in small towns and big, watching her husband. And if she watches him with a Nancy Reagan look of adoration and love rather than a Michelle Obama or Hillary Clinton look of annoyance at the husbands, then I won’t complain about that either.

Mac Attack

Ok let’s have a little straight talking. The first part of his speech was borrinngggg….. I know, I know, everybody had been saying that in this speech he needed to give details of what he will do but truthfully? Maybe I shouldn’t admit this but he was losing me as he discussed these “kitchen table” items. All I really need to know are a few things that are at the heart of all Republican beliefs. Does he belief in a small government, in a strong defense and that the court should never deviate from the Constitution? If he believes in this, which he does, then the rest is simply details to be worked out later.

The middle part started to get a little more interesting. For he vowed to continue to reach across the aisle, to work with Democrats, Independents, anyone who can help him get things done. And the delegates applauded. Wow. What a difference from a year ago when he was vilified for breaking away from some of the Republican ideas. But with Gov. Palin appealing to the conservative base then McCain is freed up a bit and perhaps his being his maverick self isn’t a bad idea right now. Maybe some Independents out there will be moved to vote for him this fall. We’ll see.

It was that last third that was terrific. Sure we’ve heard his life story before, but not quite in this way. How being a POW changed him from a selfish hot shot fighter pilot into who he is today. And the whole theme of being a fighter was a winner. It was stirring and emotional and moved the crowds as he concluded on a high note.

But you know what? I can just hear folks talking around the water coolers in the morning saying that it wasn’t a bad speech, but it sure wasn’t a Sarah Palin speech. And that’s ok, too.

Short Retort

Set those recorders for tonight! You have the convention with John McCain's big speech. There is also Bill O'Reilly's interview with Barack Obama at 8:00 eastern time. Luckily this should be before McCain's speech which I think is at 10:00, once the major networks go live with the convention. And then there is the first football game of the season: Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants. An exciting night for everyone!

Sarah Palin Did It!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Republicans aren’t bumping fists we are pumping fists up high and strong today.

Wasn’t she terrific? You sort of thought she would be because you don’t move up that quickly in politics unless you can give a great speech, right Obama? But Gov. Palin surpassed all expectations. You can tell she was enjoying every moment of it when she relaxed against the podium and smiled as she drawled out zinger after zinger while the crowd roared around her. The critics complained that she was reading speeches others had written. Oh how petty. Do they really think Obama wrote all of his speeches?

The other complaint was that she didn’t go into details. That’s right, she didn’t. This wasn’t a policy speech; this was a party speech, to introduce her to the convention and the nation and to build up enthusiasm for the ticket. And she did that in spades while the Republicans made some history of their own. (I can only imagine how angry, disappointed and envious Hillary must be right now.)

Anyway, back to the argument that there were no specifics. This is a very important fact that the liberals have never understood. Most of the voters are the ordinary citizen living in small towns and not policy wonks like they are in Washington. Instead they judge a man (and woman) by their character and by their past performance. Who are you? Can we trust you? Do you believe in the same basic things we believe in? And at top of those basic things are Family, God and Country, not necessarily in that order. Sarah Palin’s speech told us her life story and woven throughout it was how these three things impacted her life; her love for her family, even the least of them, her love for her Country with her service in government and as a mother and aunt with sons in the line of duty and her love for God. And the crowd recognized themselves in her speech and cheered.

Today, the media and liberals are shaking their heads and wondering how people can be “taken in” by a speech that didn’t address the issues in details. In 2000 the liberals had the greatest political wonk of all, Al Gore and he lost. They lost again in 2004 when they again ran John Kerry. And in both cases the media and liberals couldn’t understand it when the people said “morals” were a primary issue. And just a few days ago the media went crazy when a top Republican advisor said it wasn’t about issues, it was about character.

More on this in another blog, because I think it is important, but back to the conventions. In addition to Palin there were a number of other speakers last night. As someone put it, we heard from “the losers”; Romney, Huckabee and Giuliani. The first two, well, let’s just say I remember why they lost. I thought Giuliani started off slowly but after the first five or ten minutes really got into his speech and got the crowd cheering (and booing). He was as good as I had hoped he would be. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Fred Thompson from the night before. Now he was terrific. I hope he goes out on the trail campaigning for them.

One last thought on last night. Sarah Palin wasn’t the only female to win the heart of the convention and viewers last night. Barack Obama, you no longer have the lock on adorable little girls. Wasn’t Sarah’s youngest daughter just a hoot? Apparently even the cameramen couldn’t resist her as they kept turning the cameras on her all night. The shot of the night was of that little girl holding her baby brother, licking her palm and using it to wet down his hair. How many mothers could relate with that? It made Sarah Palin seem like any other mother, like you and I, and maybe just maybe like the next Vice President of the United States.

Media Temper Tantrum

The attack on Sarah Palin scares me. The media no longer even tries for impartiality. They are full force against her and are pulling out all the stops to attack this woman on all levels. They have stooped so low that they even published her Social Security number, address and phone number simply to harass and possibly endanger her and her family. The media doesn’t care if they contradict themselves or who else they take down just as long as they get Sarah Palin.

I never thought I would hear the liberal media suggest that a woman should stay at home with her infant rather than work, but I heard it. I never thought I would hear the same people who fawned over the movie Juno now imply that it is a sign that Sarah's teenage daughter was “forced” to have the baby because of her mother’s values. I never thought I would hear the same people who defended Obama’s lack of experience go after someone for their supposed lack of experience. What hypocrits!

Sometimes I feel as if I am watching a two year old having a tantrum. They are howling and screaming and stomping their feet on the ground. They were so sure that McCain would pick Romney or some other white male who they were sure they could beat. But this? McCain did it again. True to his maverick nickname he picked an unknown woman. And the liberals and media were taken unaware. They really don’t like that. The media is so damn smug because they are always in the loop and know what will happen before the little people do. Not this time.

So the media and liberals are angry. McCain didn’t play by their rules and for that they want to punish him. They will tear Sarah Palin apart and make McCain regret he ever picked her. Except in doing so they are showing their true colors. They are looking more and more like a pack of wolves going after their prey. She is being hit from every side while the liberals begin whisper campaigns to raise doubt about her by hinting that McCain might drop her. He won’t. But as I said the liberals will try everything to take down the McCain and Palin ticket. And for the stark fact that they are afraid this ticket might win. And that scares them.

Short Retort

Some in the media say that looking at John McCain and Sarah Palin is like looking at a father and daughter. That it emphasizes their age differences. Terrific! How many daughters look up to their fathers? How many wish that their dads would show this kind of support and confidence as McCain did? And how many men would love to mentor a good looking younger woman who also is sharp, witty and tough? So tell me again, what exactly is wrong with the picture of McCain and Palin?

DNC, Hurricanes and God

Sometimes you simply couldn’t make this stuff up. You’ve probably read about this but it bears repeating. The former DNC Chairman, Don Fowler had an interesting conversation while on a flight back from Denver with his seatmate, S.C. Congressman John Spratt. Apparently sitting immediately behind them was a blogger with a phone which had a video camera. And did I mention he was a conservative blogger? Oops.

According to RedState.com, the two men in the seat in front first trashed newly selected Sarah Palin by calling her a “female Dan Quayle on steroids” and that she is “just terrible” and “has nothing to offer”. Then these Democrats discussed how Hurricane Gustaf will land on the first day of the upcoming RNC Convention. The video shows them laughing with each other as they talk about it and agree that this must mean that “God is on our side”. Wow. I never knew so many religious liberals. Here is the link to the actual blog: http://www.redstate.com/diaries/absentee/2008/aug/30/fowler-fouls-hurricane-is-gods-favor-to-dem/

But now here is where reality becomes stranger than fiction. Fowler apologizes by saying he wasn’t serious, that he was being sarcastic. According to CNN, he told the AP that his remarks “were intended to make light of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's remark that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 was God's punishment for abortion and homosexuality”. Huh? Oh sure except that he never mentioned Jerry Falwell, or terrorist attacks or 9/11 or abortion or homosexuality. But other than that, of course, how could we not have made the connection?

And like most people when caught in the wrong, Fowler simply didn’t know when to shut up. As they say, it is the cover up not the crime that gets people in trouble. And the ex-DNC Chairman seems to keep shoving his foot further and further into his mouth as based on the following interview with ABC, “ ‘One doesn't anticipate that one's private conversation will be surreptitiously taped by some right-wing nutcase,’ said Fowler. ‘But that's the nature of what we're dealing with’.” Oh so that’s how it works. It’s ok to say something outrageous, just as long as one is not caught and if one is caught then it is the guy who catches one who is at fault. Wow. So the next time a thief is caught, it isn’t his fault for stealing but rather it is the policeman’s fault for catching him.

I meant that last line to be sarcastic but after I wrote it I sadly realized that it actually is happening. People and crooks don't blame themselves for doing something illigal or simply saying something wrong but rather they blame the person who catches them doing it. And that is not funny or ironic or sarcastic. It is simply depressing.