closing thought on the debate

I apologize for the shortened chat and live blog last night. Those of you who know me well, know I have serious allergy issues, and another attack hit me about an hour in last night. (Think "Steve leaving KU game two weeks ago"). Hence, the shortened blog and chat.

My reaction to last night is simple.

Election. Freaking. On.

I thought Biden was effective last night. Sure, he pulled some numbers out of thin air, and at times he came across as a modern day Stanley Roper ... but I thought he had the unquestioned best moment of the night in reflecting on being a single parent. I love it when Republicans try to attack those of us who lean left's commitment to family and values. Sure, we have some sleaze on the left, no question ... but our candidate isn't the one who cheated on his wife. Our VP nominee is the one who endured incredible personal tragedy (losing a wife and child) ... and not only held his family together, but as witnessed by his son's introduction at the DNC, raised two incredible kids.

My point being: you can be liberal, yet ethical. You can be progressive, yet sane.

But Palin ... I thought she was shaky early on. She looked over-prepared. But once she hit her stride, man it was on. I loved the opening "call I call you Joe?" Once she got over what I thought were initial nerves, she just knocked it out of the park.

The best recap I've read so far is Peggy Noonan's take in the Journal today. She summed it up far better than I could, so go give it a look.

http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html

Election. Freaking. On.

(Thank God. Go McCain / Palin!)

biden! palin! the veep debate live blog!

Reminder: I'll log back in by 8pm to live blog tonight's Vice Presidential debate. Here's hoping we get a couple Joe Biden classics tonight. Whatever you think of the man, and while I'm not voting for him, I freaking love him ... he always delivers at least two or three memorable moments any time he's at a microphone without a script. Considering this might be his final moment in the spotlight, you know he's gonna deliver. Oh. God love you! What am I talking about?

I'll log into Windows Live Messenger at some time before 8pm if you want to chat. My login is teamtito15@yahoo.com. I think. Not sure if you need the yahoo.com part for a MSN application or not, but just in case, there you go.

7:50pm: I am here. And by "here", I mean in the computer room, TV tuned to OMSNBC right now but heading to ABC for the debate (the one last network left that isn't completely in the tank for one of these candidates).

Then again, my mind's already made up, maybe I'll give FOX a chance.

Funny thoughts entering this thing:

1. from Gregg: What will Biden call Palin? "toots"? I countered with "classy broad". Either way, we're all winners.

2. will Biden call the moderator "mammie"? I'd laugh my ass off if that happened.

3. again from Gregg: tonight's drinking game: take a swig every time Biden stares at the lovely Governor of Alaska. I agree, and would add, double fist it every time the drool is visible on his face.

I'm grabbing a couple slices of pizza and refilling the shiraz. Be back in (chuck woolery voice) two and two ...

oh, and I am now logged into Windows Live Messenger, as promised, as teamtito15@yahoo.com. Feel free to comment along.

(and light a candle in the hopes that this debate exposes the idiocy of the Obama / Biden ticket for what it is ...)

7:56pm: and I'm back. Onto ABC. Good Lord, Judith Light is showing her age. I mean, she did in SVU as that judge she plays ... but wow. I've never seen "Ugly Betty" before, but if I didn't know who the main character was ...

We've got two logged in active participants in the chat. I'm telling you, this blog is going global. We're up to two states, three counties involved!

Life on Mars looks freaking awesome. And The Mentalist is worth checking out on CBS as well.

Seriously, is it too late to flip both tickets?

I wish Charlie Gibson would go by "Chuck". Then Biden could tell him to stand up.

Wow, what a honker on Gwen Ifill. Huge snout.

I like the outfit though. Green on black. Nice look.

Joey!

Both look good. Biden taking a quick cough to begin.

Start with the bailout bill. Jesus Christ he is ogling her.

Biden has no idea what he's talking about. But man, I love this guy.

God forbid anyone make money off this "rescue plan" Senator. Considering we taxpayers are the ones who would benefit from "making money" off this plan.

Biden staring at her chest. God I love Joey.

Bad opening by Palin. Joey wins round one.

Biden hammering McCain, not even acknowleding Palin. Probably a smart strategory.

Palin looking right at Joey as she talks. Very effective. Now she's back on the camera. Biden staring right at her. Jesus, I love Joe Biden.

Great line by Palin, "with all due respect, and I do respect your years in the Senate".

Great line by the biased moderator. "Governor, Senator, you both failed to answer my last question ..."

Palin going after the "predator lenders". Uuh, yeah, fine, but there are "risky lenders" to blame here as well.

Biden looked pissed. This is usually when he comes unhinged.

"Joe six pack". Hey, that's me!

Wow, the bald spot on the back of Joey ... not good. Plus, he has a huge mole on his forehead. Yes, these things matter. To me at least.

Joey at his local gas station. Was everyone there speaking with an Indian accent?

Joey is grinning. (tommy tutone voice) 867 5309 .. 867 5309 ...

Biden so far is winning this. He's been solid. Palin needs to hit at Obama and hit at him hard. Just point out the facts and run on them. Obama is beyond a risky scheme.

On second thought, Palin just put the moderator in her place. Awesome.

Gregg: no pearls? Steve: ridiculous. need to post that in the blog.

So its posted.

This moderator is struggling with her verbage. Must be the Miss Piggy snout. (rimshot!)

Uuh, Joey? Barack wants to REMOVE the payroll tax cap. That means A SHITLOAD OF FOLKS making UNDER 250,000 will see TAX INCREASES! Jesus Christ, common sense, Joey. Common sense.

Thank God, Dusty's back. Hopefully he scored something. I need, uuh, something other than shiraz to listen to this garbage.

Palin touting the public sector. Amen, Governor. Amen.

Gregg: "she's the only middle class person on either ticket". Good point.

Palin hitting health care home. Great dig at the feds.

Oh Lord, here we go. Joey going off tangent!

He's pulling these health care numbers (ian eagle voice) out of thin air!

Although I do like Obama's health care plan. Compared to McCain's anyway.

Biden with the first great line. "I call that the ultimate Bridge to Nowhere!"

God forbid we don't double foreign assistance.

He had another "freudian slip" there.

This is Palin's "second f*cking base" moment upcoming. She can hammer him on this if she does it right.

Biden struggling with "characterize". Another funny line about the light blinking.

Again, Palin can win this debate right here, right now if she hammers him on "unpatriotic" for not paying taxes ...

She botched it. Focused on energy rather than taxes. But she's got a solid double, maybe a triple if Beltran loafs it in center ....

Biden knows she's botched it, he's ready to pounce.

Good point by the moderator: Palin didn't answer the question. Horrible showing on this answer.

And here's Joey. He can win this debate right now.

Wow, HUGE point by Joey, pointing out Palin implemented a windfall profits tax on Big Oil. Governor, you're in trouble tonight.

Governor Palin needs to take a deep breath ... relax ... and just speak. She's way too tight right now. If you can be over-prepared ... she is.

I COMPLETELY agree with Biden, let the courts adjust your mortgage. If the feds are buying them up anyways, let the courts help the folks out.

Here's another home run chance for Palin. And she's nailing it. "East Coast politicians". Great line.

Interesting question. Climate change.

Good answer from Palin. "I don't want to argue about the causes. I want to argue about the answers".

She handled this well. But she left an opening for Joey.

And he's driving a freaking Humvee through said opening.

And Biden just opened the door to Palin, regarding 10 years to get oil to the market.

WHOA! Biden JUST LIED about clean coal.

Palin can still come back if she'd just relax a bit. Biden fucking lied about his support of clean coal. Hit him on it!

She is!

"The comment in a rope line was taken out of context".

The moderator actually shuts Joey down.

Same sex question. I side with Biden on this, and I haven't heard Palin's response yet.

Governor, our Constitution only discriminates based on color of skin, not who you sleep with.

Whoa! Brent agrees with me on this issue!

Palin's answer was dead on.

And Joey just threw the gay folks under the bus. To save the Catholic vote. They BOTH oppose gay marriage.

Both candidates have kids in Iraq. Save the "opposed funding in Iraq" crap. Biden REFUSED to do that. And Palin praises him for it.

I cannot even imagine the pain, frustration, heartache a parent would feel with a child in Iraq. I had a cousin who (thank God) returned alive. Just ... God bless you men and women. God bless you, and keep you safe from harm.

Palin effectively pointing out Biden's differences from Obama. And praising the Biden family. Wonderful moment.

Biden working his mom into the debate. Nice. I LOVE Biden's mom.

Biden blew this. A nuclear Iran is FAR worse than anything Pakistan has.

Biden making a horrid case as to what the real threat is.

If you give a shit about foreign policy, Palin is kicking ass right now.

Another Joey lie.

"Ahmadinejad does not control the security apparatus in Iran". Really?

Joe Biden is a "friend of Israel". Good for him.

OK, I'm ending the blog because the chat is better. I'll post my final thoughts tomorrow.

i love ya joey!

I listen to Rush Limbaugh every day. Well, ok, almost every day.

There are times when I want to take a sledgehammer to the computer (I usually listen online) and bash it out of frustration. I am not a Republican, after all.

(Even if I am voting for one in 55 days).

There are times (like his critique of Governor Palin's speech) when I want to just stand and applaud.

But mostly, I listen, because there are moments that just are too freaking funny to describe.

Today ... was one of those days.

What more needs to be posted. "The Biden and Barry Comedy Hour". (rimshot!) Priceless.

And if you can watch Biden ask a cripple to "stand up Chuck" and not spend the next 10 seconds in near tears at his "recovery" ... you have a better ability to not laugh at others than I do.

The Rush link (probably only good through Thursday's show):
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_091008/content/01125114.guest.html

The Youtube! link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2mzbuRgnI4

Seriously, where do you begin? "Oh ... God love ya! What am I talkin' about?" (rimshot!)

I just wish you didn't have to be a Rush 24/7 subscriber to hear his "clip" of this with the (rimshot!) in it. He lost it at least 5-6 times on the air today, just mass fits of laughter. As did I at my desk. This is just ...

What can I say. I love ya Joey! Too bad you're running with an unelectable idiot that doesn't even know how many states there are in the Union ...

God I love my party. We're the comedy gift that just keeps on giving ...

(peter griffin voice) I am going to be a dignified cripple!!!
(cue elton's john's "i guess that's why they call it the blues")
(peter) (rolls to joe's front door)
(peter) joe! I've been in a wheelchair for 45 minutes ...

(and yes, that's my favorite Family Guy moment ever. Dignified cripple, that gets me every time ...)

biden rocked. can barry do the same?

Joe Biden was tremendous last night, I thought. I must have stood and applauded at least 10 times. What a tremendous grand slam of a speech. He was on point. He was funny. He was hard hitting. He was inspiring. It was just wonderful to listen to. My favorite moments from Biden's acceptance speech, and there are a lot of them, which you can easily view here: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/08/28/sot.dnc.biden.entire.cnn

* the opening praise of his son. "You know you've become a success when your son or daughter turns out better than you are. I'm a success. I'm a hell of a success". You can definitely see the love, the respect, he has for his family. No matter what you think of the ticket, and I'm still unsold ... at least we've got two decent, honorable parents who geniunely love their kids on it.

* the praise of his family, and his upbringing. In stark contrast to Barry, who seems to be doing everything possible to avoid talking about his upbringing, including throwing grandma under the bus as a racist in the primaries. But especially the praise and honor towards his mom. Just wonderful to see. I love seeing public figures genuinely showing respect to their true mentors, the 'rents. I loved the line about how "I used to stutter, and mom just said Joey, its because you're so bright you can't get the words out quickly enough". You could tell there's a lot of love, of respect, of geniune bond, in the Biden family. Very enjoyable to witness.

* "failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable". As someone that has experienced his fair share of failure, granted mostly self inflicted but still ... those words ring very true with me.

* the "freudian slip" referencing the election of George ... I mean, John McCain.

* "we do not have to accept the situation, we have the power to change it". Amen Senator. Amen.

* the praise for McCain. I can't hit on this enough. You can have strong disagreements with someone in their politics and still be friends, still have tremendous respect and admiration for someone. You can honor someone for their service, and yet disagree with their stand on the issues. John McCain is a true American hero. Noone can dispute this. If you do dispute it, you should live in the Hanoi Hilton for 5 years of torture, of pure hell on earth. But McCain is wrong on certain issues. Again, good for Senator Biden to stress this difference. Too bad Republicans couldn't do this 4 years ago when another American hero was seeking the White House.

* "any country that outteaches us today, will out compete us tomorrow". Great perspective.

* hitting home the lack of progress in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and against al Quada. Its ridiculous that we're almost 7 years after 9/11 and haven't found and killed bin Ladin.

* "our greatest Presidents ... all challenged us to embrace change."

* "Millions of Americans have been knocked down. This is the time we get up, together!" Yes, a good number of us have been knocked down this year. And the only way to get back up is to rise together.

Like I said, I loved Biden's speech last night. He came across as a guy you'd love to have a beer with, shoot the sh*t with at the local bar down the street. One of us. The total opposite of the package we are being sold of Barry.

Which brings me to tonight. And the problem Obama's got.

Which is that he's not Biden.

I think Obama is in the same spot right now, that Gore was in in 2000. He has two major tasks he has to accomplish tonight. The same two tasks Gore had to pull off 8 years ago.

First, he has to deliver an unquestioned grand slam speech. He has to lay out exactly what the change he is seeking is. Details to go with the lofty ideals. He has to provide some substance. Anyone can promise change. We need to hear what the change he seeks is. We need to know what current policies he'd overhaul, what current procedures he'd tear up and start over with. There must be substance, I cannot stress that enough. I am still an "undecided" voter. His speech tonight has to be addressed to the 10% of the electorate that fall into my category.

He's not going to change Republican's minds tonight. Write them off. You're not winning the conservative base. He also isn't going to change any Democrat's minds tonight. Write them off. The liberal base isn't going to abandon you. He has to move solidly, strongly, into the middle tonight, and leave no doubt about where he stands on the pertinent issues of the day.

Gore did this better than any candidate I've ever seen in 2000. Barry has to match Gore's 2000 speech tonight, in terms of providing details, substance, actual policy items.

But the real challenge Barack faces tonight, is connecting with his audience. To set aside the Messiah image, the "I am your salvation" message, and simply be "one of us". Because that's who Americans tend to elect. "One of us".

Someone who doesn't appear power hungry. Someone who you know is doing this, is running, because he wants to, not because he thinks its his destiny. Someone who won't lose any sleep over losing.

This is where Gore failed in 2000.

Gore, of course, everyone thought was too wooden, too rehearsed, too driven. Too boring. He overcame that (somewhat) with the kiss of Tipper on stage, with his fiery, on point, energized acceptance speech. But he never completely overcame it. Think "lockbox". Ultimately, it probably helped cost him the election. And the persistent recount certainly didn't help his view among people, it only confirmed their view of him.

We re-elected Bush because, let's face it, Kerry is a stuck up liberal who thinks he's better and smarter than everyone else in the room. He couldn't, and can't, connect with middle America. Ditto his arrogant running mate, "the Breck Girl", John Edwards. Bush, on the other hand, he is "one of us". He is a guy you'd have a beer with. He is a guy who has "experienced life". He's not perfect. He's f*cked up, he's admitted it, and used his past to make his life into something amazing. Its admirable actually. Americans connect with that. We've always connected with that.

Just like with Clinton in 1992. Bush Senior? Not gonna do it. Not gonna connect. Washington insider through and through. Clinton? One of us. He'd definitely have a beer with us at the local bar, and probably try to take the cute blonde on the barstool next to him home for a night of fun. Just like we do. Its why most of America still embraces him, despite the far right's attempt to turn Lewinsky giving him oral sex into a moral outrage. Because most of America not only doesn't care, we kind of think its cool to have an intern on call to pleasure you when you feel like it. And America still embraces Bill, despite all the baggage. As you witnessed last night. Because we all have baggage. We've all f*cked up, learned from it, and tried to get better. Just like Clinton. Its why he won twice. Its why he'd be running for a 5th term right now if there weren't term limits.

Reagan? Talk about "one of us". I never understood why the commentators couldn't grasp why the entire nation mourned his passing. Reagan WAS average America. I am anything but a conservative, but I took the day of his funeral off just to watch the coverage, to in some small way pay my respect, my regards, to the man that WAS America. He looked into the face of evil in our time and told it to "tear down this wall". He didn't dwell on the negatives that we all know exist, he instead chose to focus on the potential for greatness we all have. Reagan was "us". He was the embodiment of all that is great and wonderful and inspiring about this country.

Tonight, Obama has to connect with middle America. He has to come off the high horse, drop the rhetoric, and just be Barry. Don't lawyer up the speech, don't attempt to speak to a book club in San Francisco. Speak to me. Little ol' Steve, sitting on his couch, enjoying a Coors Light. Speak as if you were sitting next to me, trying to spark up a friendship. That's what America wants to hear, I think. Barack Obama, average joe.

I hope he not only delivers a great speech, but does connect with America on a personal level tonight. This country needs, desperately needs, two decent options for President. We need to know, for the first time in a long time, that there is no really "wrong" choice. McCain, I'm comfortable with, as most people are. We know, at worst, we get the status quo with John McCain. And we know he won't do anything to make us regret our choice. He's not going to throw his country under the bus for political gain. Obama? Still not sure about. Tonight, he has to begin to put the doubts to rest.

I wish him well. I'll be watching, "on the couch, enjoying a Coors Light". Here's hoping Barry's speech makes it seem like he'll be dropping by to shoot the sh*t over a frosty cold one when he's done.

(And yes, this means I am missing a Chiefs home game for the first time in a long time. Some things are more important than meaningless preseason football. Like electing a President ...)