Succinct

From a commenter at The Daily Show:

Two people have just jumped the wide, blurry line separating “maverick” and “lunatic.” McCain went first, using only a few hours and checklist politics to pick someone that could easily inherit the presidency. Palin followed, her acceptance showing levels of ignorance and hubris that would embarrass even George W. Bush. With such jumping abilities, both candidates should be shoo-ins for the next Olympics. However, I predict they will settle for silver this November.

If its Palin

A commenter over at Ezra’s house nails it:

. McCain wants to pull in Hillary voters, so he thinks he’ll accomplish this by picking a younger, prettier, but immensely less-qualified woman than Clinton to get the promotion she didn’t? Becuase, you know, middle-age women LOVE that story?

Feel Good Friday: We’ll Get There

My favorite line?  “I’ve got a fever.”  That will surely have insecure white-guys running toward McCain.  Ha!

If You Build It…

I’ll have more to say in the morning, as I am still wearing last night’s excesses….but I’ve enjoyed watching Nathan Moore live-blog his own melt-down.  (I’d link, but to which bit of the screed?)

S’cuse Me, While I Kiss This Guy

I’m pretty sure I inspired this website.  My friends find it funny that I seldom, if ever, hear the lyrics to most songs.  I don’t think I was always this way, since I definitely had a bustle in my hedgerow, and wasn’t at all alarmed.

Last night was no different.  The Primary Wife turned 26 last night, and to celebrate, we went to see these guys.

Wow.  haven’t had that much fun since I saw dada live in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Unbelievable guitar work.  I believe Rolling Stone’s review said “brilliance on nylon strings” or something close.  When i went to pee, the guy at the urinal next to me remarked “you know, you hear some guys play, it makes you want to go home and practice, these guys make me want to go home and sell my gear.”  Turns out, he works for Gibson.  Seriously, if you wield an axe for a living or just for fun, catch these guys if can.  They are headed to Louisville today, in case anyone wants to see them this weekend.

BTW, I mentioned the whole misheard lyrics thing because I didn’t understand a word they sang.  Their front man was energetic as hell, and belted out what I’m sure were compelling yet poignant songs about brotherhood, love, the spirit of the Southwest, and Barack Obama, but he could have just been reading a french toast recipe for all I understood.  Didn’t matter. I danced every song and screamed myself hoarse.

Man, its a long drive home from The Mercy Lounge, though.

Beale Keeps It Real

In case anyone is still interested in what happens to people in a war zone, one of our most tenacious local bloggers talks about a bombing raid gone horribly wrong.  Too many young people buy into the idea that questioning “official reports” is tantamount to being unpatriotic.  Some of us older folks remember the lies we were fed during our war….Vietnam.  Our skepticism is warranted.

Members of our Fourth Estate trade access for accountability.  How difficult it must be to write something critical of an elected official after eating his barbecued ribs, sipping his wine, and hanging out with his kids. I’ll never understand how any self-respecting news division would accept a story from a reporter who was friggin  dancing on stage with Karl Rove, and who had the head of DHS at his baby shower?

I don’t buy into this notion that this is the kind of coverage Americans want.  The Boomers want news.  The kids behind us don’t know anything else but the swill they have been fed.

I can’t go into all this today, but I had to acknowledge Southern Beale’s effort.  Without people like her, the internet would be filled with “Dancing With Stars” reviews.  Oh, wait.

Egghead Academic Gets One Right

I tease.

Saw this over at Tiny Cat Pants, had to share it.  Worth the time, trust me.

America, How It Should Be

Damn.  I am hopelessly smitten.  Last week I called some friends and remarked upon Michelle Obama’s beauty and style.  I didn’t know all that much about her, except that she had been a lawyer, and was, by all accounts, a devoted wife and mother.  I just liked the way she carried herself, there was confidence, there was a hint of athleticism, and there was a classiness to how she dressed.  Tonight, I learned a great deal more about not only her, but her family, and I don’t care how sentimental it makes me sound….I’m inspired.

The speech was perfectly crafted, and she delivered it with just the right amount of emotion.  But, the mechanics aside, the message was one of hope and inspiration, of hard work and dedication, of triumph over adversity.  In short, perhaps it was about that which America and Americans aspire,  and about what this country has been, and can be again.

I intend to have my children watch this speech after school tommorow.  I intend to think  about a man stricken with a dibilitating disease, dragging himself out of bed every morning to go work at a water treatment plant, so that his children might have better.  What on Earth is more American than that?

Mrs. Obama’s speech tonight will serve to remind me that it is perfectly OK to demand better from America, but only if you serve America, by demanding more from yourself.  Its OK to say, “this is how it is, and it will not do.”

I know that as I go to bed tonight, there are possibly hundreds of political operatives and faux patriots hell bent to distort something she said, to disprove something she recalled from her life.  I don’t care.  Her words rang true, and I am proud of this American family.

Let Go Of The Remote, Bill

So, before I have to go do stuff today, I decided to read a little about the convention.  I got so sick of watching Mika (Alan Colmes) Brzezinski play subordinate to the smug and smarmy Joe that I turned off my set in disgust. (BTW, Mika, you haven’t been relevant since the “Paris Hilton” incident, in June 2007) Anyway, I’m reading this report about how Bill Clinton is “disappointed” by the role hes been assigned for the convention.  I’ll say right off the bat that this Obama vs Clinton supporters thing is largely a creation of a bored, lazy, and desperate press.  That said, if Bill is unhappy that hes not getting a chance to shine this week, well, I say too damn bad.

Mr. Clinton, you had your legacy in the bag early on.  History would have looked favorably on you even after the news of the BJ went public, IF, I say, IF you had done two things:

Tell whomever first asked you about Ms. Lewinski to kindly f%$k off.

Or,

Admit it, and endure a few weeks of unfavorable coverage.

Instead, by denying it, you virtually erased every single one of your administration’s accomplishments, and, brought down the entire Democratic Party, allowing the moron W to sneak into the Oval office.  Even after that, we loved you.  We bought your books.  Many of us flocked to hear you speak, and made you rich in the process.  We even gritted our teeth and smiled when you globe-trotted around with Bush Sr., since you were doing important work.

Then, instead of staying above the nonsence inherent in the Primary process, you wandered around campaigning for your wife.  Didn’t do much to improve your stature as an ex-president.  Now, when tens of thousands of new donors, volunteers, and VOTERS decide to nominate Obama, you send word through your aides that you are unhappy with your role at his convention?   Beyond arrogant.

It ain’t about ya, anymore, Bill.  You simply aren’t in control anymore.  The Party is moving away from a top-down model, thanks, in large part, to Howard Dean, and now by Barack Obama.  Jimmy Carter is still the Party Elder, and rightly so.  If you must have some of the spotlight, then use your time to congratulate the guys doing the heavy-lifting right now, they have earned a right to be there.  Your wife should speak.  You should not.

The Real Hispanic Nashville

I see your videos…..and raise