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S/SW blog philosophy -

I credit favorite writers and public opinion makers.

A lifelong Democrat, my comments on Congress, the judiciary and the presidency are regular features.

My observations and commentary are on people and events in politics that affect the USA or the rest of the world, and stand for the interests of peace, security and justice.


Friday, October 31, 2008

If I were a kid . . .


It would be easy to get back at the McCain campaign, using all the old sayings and cliches that we used when we were mad at peers at recess. This campaign is prompting these sayings to pop into my head because I am mad at McCain for being mean to his opponent and disrespectful to us the voters. What follows is what popped into my head when I read the linked opinions, articles, posts and news items.

"Like a chicken with his head cut off" -- John McCain buckled under the pressure of an emerging economic meltdown#. His childish erratic behavior stood in contrast to Obama's calmness in crisis, and the Democratic candidate's unwillingness to respond to negative attacks with anger.

"Don't go away mad" -- We have often seen John McCain's anger get in his way#. And anger is too often getting into the Grand Old Party; they are blaming each other for their failures. And worst of all, using divisive anger trying to drive people apart is dangerously contagious#. At some point we all have to get along, as my teacher would say.

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"Birds of a feather flock together" -- You will be known by who you run around with my parents told me. In politics like minds tend to join for the common effort. The influence of Rovian politics shadowed McCain's campaign#. Geography may be at play somehow in the phenomena of "Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State." Unlike partisans, in this election experts say that undecided voters are unlikely to break for either McCain or Obama, because their reasons for indecision are so disparate. Indecision was not a problem for McCain when he chose his running mate. He made a spur of the moment decision because he could not get his first choice.

"Shame, shame on you" -- McCain's choice of Sarah Palin brought shame to the democratic process#, and now trying to scapegoat Palin is equally shameful#.

"Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers" -- And picking Palin may have been just too much for a surprisingly wide range of opinion makers. The rejection of Palin as unqualified has been pretty universal among thoughtful voters#. McCain's Veep pick was not picked by Alaska's biggest paper#. Also, many conservatives are not endorsing John McCain,# including influential columnist, David Frum#.

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"Nah-nah-de-nah-nah; you're just jealous" -- Washington can be a live-or-die place, socially. Does Cindy McCain want back into Washington's inner circles#? John McCain is "guaranteeing" his voters a win, but he won't get much help from some of his Republican friends*. McCain arrogantly and dangerously mocked Obama's faith#; he also mocked his opponent's stance on nuclear power safety, regular contributor Jon# says,

Sen. John McCain ramped up his attacks against Democratic opponent Barack Obama on Saturday, criticizing the Illinois senator for saying that nuclear power needed to be done safely.

The Republican candidate referenced the final presidential debate Oct. 15, in which Obama qualified McCain's support of nuclear energy and offshore drilling with the need to protect the environment.

"You know, the other night in a debate I said his eloquence is admirable but pay attention to his words," McCain said. "We talked about offshore drilling and he said he would, quote, 'consider' offshore drilling. We talked about nuclear power," the mocking continues.

McInsane is starting to lose touch with reality. I think while the nuclear reactors are basically similar, the shear size and logistics of land based reactors create a greater chance of an accident.



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"Here is the watchbird, watching you," -- is what other countries observe about the McCain campaign#. And in this age of instant communication they see us at our worst as well. This is "no fair," says "betmo* recalling a particularly difficult period a couple of weeks ago:

First we had the press barricaded out of Palin rallies. Then we had reporters of color called 'boy'. Assault was only a matter of time.


"Pot calls kettle black" -- McCain is endorsed by the same figure he accused# of being an Obama supporter. And if McCain is the campaign's loser, after November 4 he will have to go back to the Senate and join the other losers (who will be lame duck Senators). It may not be so easy to accuse others of unsavory associations in that august body.

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"Laughter is the best medicine" -- McCain's October Surprise Memo is good for a belly laugh, courtesy of 236.com#. We end with an upbeat roast note,* celebrating the white tie dinner where two candidates. with a lot at stake could tease with good natures.

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Hat Tip Key: Regular contributors of links to leads are "betmo*" and Jon#.



View my current slide show about the Bush years -- "Millennium" -- at the bottom of this column.

(Cross-posted at The Reaction.)

My “creativity and dreaming” post today is at Making Good Mondays.

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