Vote ... don't vote....

Rocks in your shoes...

You're walking or hiking -- a pebble lodges itself between your shoe and your foot. It can be outright annoying and irritating. Eventually, the more rocks you get in your shoes -- the more likely it'll cause you to stop and turn around.

And that's the strategy for the McCain campaign....

We'll all find out on November 4th whether the attack ads worked for McCain or not. But when you consider exactly how incredibly sad it is that the long-term senator couldn't debate the issues and try to give Americans the type of discussion that we need to change the course out of the mess created by the Republican party. While I could rant all day long about every botched administration mishap (and the McCain rank-and-file approach to supporting 90% of this administration's mishaps) -- I want to talk about pebbles today.

No - not Pebbles from the Flintstones -- I'm talking about those annoying little rocks in your shoes -- or in this context, the little pebbles that the McCain/Palin ticket hope you get in your $2,000.00 Manolo Blahnik's that we all know Joe the Plumber wears from his closet.....

But whenever I've asked McCain supporters why they're supporting him -- it almost *never* has to do with his policies. In fact, most of the reasons why folks are voting for McCain have NOTHING to do with policy and has everything to do with why they think Obama shouldn't be President. Okay - as I play along with these misguided folks, I keep asking them for real reasons. It's in this exchange that you find the pebbles that stopped our faithful voter from seeing the light of day:

He lacks any governing experience. Well then so does McCain. So when we get the pageant veep candidate touting her governing experience as being relevant -- let's not forget this is the person who -- after four tries -- STILL can't figure out what the Vice President does. This is the same person who is currently under investigation for mis-conduct WHILE "governing" -- not to mention some of the other incredibly strange oddities like: a.) the whole wasteful $150k clothing spree, b.) denying having anything to do with the "bridge to nowhere" when she clearly did, c.) Trooper-gate which she actually called "Taser-gate" which may actually be problematic for her in the long-run, d.) claiming per-diem charges when she was living at home and e.) potentially being in a scandal about showing preferential treatment for a contractor who built an arena and just happened to give Sarah and her husband Todd a home for free..... Yeah - some governing experience.

He can't be trusted. This argument is clearly in the abstract because on what basis has Obama LIED about anything? Let's not forget the fact that McCain OVERTLY lied about his campaign manager not working with Freddie Mac for 2 years when he and his company were getting paid handsomely as recent as when the Macs went belly up. Let's not forget the fact that McCain still lies about Obama's tax plan because unless you make over $250,000 a year you will not see a tax increase. God -- what part of that statement doesn't McCain or his faithful understand? When McCain has made such outrageous accusations like how he claims Obama wants to teach kindergartners about sex education -- with such lies and distortions. When it comes down to being truthful, in the scheme of things -- McCain seems to have proven to be a bigger liar than even most Republicans are even comfortable with.

He's a terrorist -or- he "pals around" with terrorists. This ridiculous notion comes from the fact that Barack's middle name happens to be Hussein. Yeah, gosh - anyone who happens to have a same last name, same first name, same middle name -- yikes.... It's outright stupid to keep this pebble buried in your shoe because even McCain came out and said: "no, Obama is an American, we just disagree on things." Kudos to McCain for having the balls to do that -- even though he still doesn't repudiate the words of his running mate who spewed her unfounded statements ... merely trying to keep the pebble firmly lodged between your big toe your shoe because maybe this is all you need to be convinced that Obama simply can't be trusted. Despite the fact that Obama has been forthcoming with this stuff -- constantly refuting it -- constantly establishing the record to the contrary.

He's elitist, he's a celebrity Like this is a problem? Considering that McCain has 11 houses over a dozen cars -- the whole "elitist" argument just falls completely flat. When you have the "commoner" in Sarah Palin spending $150,000.00 on clothing in the last couple of months -- guess what? You've lost your elitist bragging rights.... (but nice try) As far as his celebrity "status" -- well -- he's been in the news quite a bit since fighting it out with Hillary for the last 20 months. In fact, McCain's rather easy time cutting through the Republican primary process made him a little less of a celebrity -- not really under the microscope as Obama and Hillary had gone under. But leave it to the McCain/Palin ticket to cry like a spoiled brat when the press doesn't enamor over every thing they utter. They merely pouted like insolent children and turned their back on the media..... *laughs* ("Note the McCain/Palin campaign: if you want to be a celebrity -- you need to do that thing with the press so that your mugs can get on the ol' 13 inch black and white telly.") How woefully pathetic....

He's a Socialist This is the most hysterical of all of the boneheaded reasons why folks keep their pebbles in their shoes. For one - those who claim that Obama is a socialist doesn't really know what a socialist is or what socialism is about. Two, McCain supported the exact same tax proposal or "redistribution of wealth" that got him in trouble in 2000 when he ran for President and was called out for it. Third, McCain pushed to "socialize" government ownership of our banking institutions. For someone who keeps chanting: "redistribution of wealth" in his speeches, he clearly suffers from some attention deficit disorder or else he'd see that his antics during the bailout are clearly "socialistic" in nature as well.

People seem to also forget the "Patriot Act" and how it's supposed to make us "safer" -- while promises were made that "we won't spy on Americans" only to find out that we are spying on Americans. The "Big Brother" approach to governing was particularly big with the socialists of the former Soviet Union -- as it is today in China. Oh, but we won't hear Palin or McCain come out against these little ditties because they want to have the ability to spy on Americans for the sake of protecting us from the "evil-doers" of the world.....

The entire "socialist" threat chant is nothing more than a conjuring up an "oldie but a goody" ruse dating back to the 70's and 80's -- during the Cold War. Putin's actions into Georgia have helped born out this "socialist" fear again -- but folks who keep this pebble in their shoe clearly don't understand what socialism is or even how much socialism they already have in their lives right now.

He doesn't have foreign policy experience. This is the one I just love. Not only does his running mate have really good foreign policy credentials, most of the policies that Obama has gone on record are either: a.) now becoming the "new" Bush doctrine, b.) recommended by heads of state around the world, c.) heralded by generals, former secretaries of state and those in the know about foreign policy.

But not having foreign policy - or rather, not following the same flawed foreign policy that got us into much of this mess to begin with doesn't distinguish you apart of the failed policies of the last 8 years. So merely being a former prisoner of war, having served your country militarily, all of that doesn't pile on one ounce of credible gets thrown out the window. Just because you were an all-pro quarterback doesn't mean you're going to be a great coach.....

McCain has done nothing to separate his foreign policy path than that of George W. Bush's. In fact, it's Bush's policies of a timeline and a gradual pullout of Iraq that sounds a lot like what a certain Illinois Senator said awhile back -- doesn't it.... And what did McCain say about this ....? It would be surrender ... it would be quitting ... Dare I even say that "Bush gets it???"

*sighs* This is supposed to be John's strong suit -- and yet it flounders more than fish out of water.

.........................

So if you want to keep the pebble lodged in your shoe and keep buying into the theatrics of the McCain campaign -- then you're simply not being honest with the reason why you don't want Obama in the White House in the first place. What policy decision do you disagree with? Tell me, because so far -- every McCain supporter who even pretends to have a valid reason why they don't support Obama -- has fallen for the pebbles in the shoe problem.

You're ignoring the reality of fact and you're simply trying to find a reason, ANY reason why you don't want Barack Obama to become the 44th President of the United States. Having such an opaque reason that defies the physics of nature clearly shows the Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity divide and conquer governing approach is the staple you live by. There's nothing UNITED about the Republicans skewed view of America -- and the Republicans are so desperate to invoke every single anger, fear-filled mantra to win the election by completely ignoring the issues of the land -- then it speaks volumes about the ineptness that the right brings to the table.

A brief message from Ron Howard...

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

If the lies stick....

I don't get it.

The lies and distortions from the Republicans -- trying to get their own brand of "jello" to be nailed against the wall. What is it this week?

Believing that the basic fundamentals of the economy is strong... You'd think that John could get a better grasp on the situation. After this gaffe, he thought it was serious enough for him to suspend his campaign (even though he really didn't since most of the staff was still working, ads were being run, etc.) so that he can stay in Washington until a recovery plan was in place. When that little gambit didn't work -- he left Washington before any deal was hammered out -- only to resume his campaign -- and then the guys and gals in Washington secured the deal without him.

Well his latest gaffe simply put: "the economy has hurt us a little bit in the last week or two," ... Really John? How can a candidate for the single highest position in the land merely thinks we must've hit a speed bump in the road. No John ... 18% of the value of the stock market is GONE -- get it? World markets are collaborating their efforts to help thwart their own economies from systematically breaking down. So no - John - the economy hasn't hurt us a little bit it has hit us and the rest of the world like you would be hit by a speeding locomotive.

McCain has a big new plan for the economy that he would be introducing on Monday ... except that the rest of the McCain camp said there is no such policy.

Okay - so maybe there was just a little bit of mis-communication, no big deal, right?

McCain needs to check the "context" to see if there's any link between Obama and Bin Laden? Although John repudiates the the connection -- his spokeswoman came out and condemned the remarks as "not appropriate." But he still claims that Obama isn't being truthful with the Ayers situation. Yo John: "if you got something - say it -- enough drama...."

McCain thinks there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11?? This was a softball pitch -- merely asking to clarify:

"Asked by the host whether he agreed with Barack Obama that "the Iraq war had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks of 9/11," McCain replied:

"No. We invaded a country that every intelligence agency said was developing weapons of mass destruction. Think of Saddam Hussein in power with oil at 100 dollars a barrel, and all that entails with his commitment which when after he was captured, he stated categorically that he would acquire weapons of mass destruction, and he would use them wherever he could. Now, Iraq--"

"But he had nothing to do with 9/11," the hosted interjected.

"He had a lot to do with invading his neighbor Kuwait, and we had to go to war and fight there," McCain replied. "He had a lot to do with using weapons of mass destruction, he used them previously, so there's no doubt about his commitment to get them."

YOU'RE KIDDING ME!!

As if it's not bad enough that the desperate few WANT to believe the lies that Obama is a Muslim, Obama is a terrorist, Obama isn't patriotic -- but now we're going to dig in Bush's greatest hits and try to re-write history that Iraq was responsible for 9/11?!?

Even Bush *HIMSELF* said there was no connection YEARS AGO....

*sighs*

But when you look at the lies, distortions and mud -- I felt sorry for the lady who has been pulled into every sound-byte since last Friday -- believing that Obama is a Muslim -- because she represents the incredibly small minority of people who are still victim of the truth. She and the rest of the crowd doesn't know any better and they keep faithfully listening to Limbaugh, Faux News and the punditry that continually churns this meritless crap. But ultimately it speaks volumes for those who WANT to believe that it's true just so that they can somehow justify their support behind McCain.

Because at this point -- what else is there?!?

- There's no viable economic policy from John McCain.
- There's no McCain foreign policy that's any different than Bush's.
- There's no social agenda that is that un-different than the last 8 years of "moral superiority" which has done nothing for society except to make us more embolden against each other.

Look at the McCain stump speeches.

Even when he TRIES to say that he's going to fight for a new direction -- his RECORD proves otherwise. What new direction, John? What does it look like? Even when he gets TOP BILLING in a news story there's no "direction" except empty rhetoric. Oh he vows to fight for a new direction -- but it's Obama who is laying out specifics, calling for a 90 day moratorium on home foreclosures, two-year tax break on businesses, a $3k tax cut for businesses that hire full-time employees, and a $10k allowance for families to withdraw their from their retirement plans for the next two years.

It's called "specifics" John. But his campaign hasn't been about policy lately. It's either hearing for the 2 millionth time that he was a POW, followed by hallowed rhetoric that only serves as a placeholder - without specifics or his campaign has been about shelling out crap on your opponent.

And if the latter is what Republicans stand for -- then it's a sign of illness comparable to the likes of a vintage Karl Rove campaign. It's poison to the core -- and as has been reported in many senate races right now, it's affecting all Republicans across the board. It's the stain that doesn't wipe clean.

- Republicans have no direction.
- Republicans have lost complete touch with the 89% of America.
- Republicans think they have a moral compass, but really -- what kind of moral compass comes from a party that apparently celebrates "killing" and "bombing" the other guy just because you think he's a terrorist while re-writing history in a feeble effort to try to bolster your inept standing in the world?
- Republicans spend incredibly too much time blaming everyone else for the mistakes THEIR party has made.
- Republicans drink the poison they've created by the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reily. Yet if the Republican smear machine is nothing more than a from for "moral superiority" then when the overwhelming number of Americans believe that this country is heading in the wrong direction -- then it's the touted few that continue to eat, breathe and sleep this mantra until it totally consumes them to the point of obscurity.

"Real Republicans" should be ashamed of their party -- and I'm glad to read that so many are openly responding to the Republican party, their candidate of choice and saying: "I don't know who invited this guy, but I don't agree with what he's selling." Americans are finally coming back around that it's the issues that matter, not the mud-slinging or the hypocritical "guilt-by-association" game that the Republicans have been running with. I'm glad to see that the majority of Americans are finally fed up with the likes of the Republican base that it's okay to rally behind the idea of "terrorist" and "bomb Obama" or "kill him."

There's a lot of poison on the right side of the aisle -- and I'm very glad to see and hear that Americans are sick of it. Americans are better without this incarnation of the Republican Party and it's my hope that we can restore our standing in the world and come together -- than continually find ourselves supporting those that only seek to divide us as a nation.

"That One..."

It came from the guy's mouth...

It's hard to refute the tape -- even the crowd winced when it was uttered, even the Brits across the pond went "whoa" .... how come? Because "that one" was sitting less than three feet away from John McCain and yet the best Republican that could be rounded up for the 2008 election came off as some hateful little man who would use the words "it" or "thing" to describe another human being.

Now for those who want to try to play it off like: "oh that's not what he meant" -- then you're not a real good student of history or at the very least when it comes to civil rights history when it was very common to refer to men and women of color in same manner. Look at the audience reaction - watch how they went: "oh my god, did he just say that?" This is Nashville, Tennessee -- rooted in the South -- racial inequality pretty prevalent in the 1960's along with most of the South.

So when you refer to another human being as "that one" -- remove race for a moment -- only impugns your character to the point of obscurity. Because McCain has no problems calling out Obama in his stump speeches over the last several days -- at least have the decency to refer to "that one" as "he" or "Senator Obama" or "him" or even "that dude." Because at point you've at least recovered the fact that you think Obama is actually human and happens to be running against you for public office. Anything less shows that you're at best "uppity" and at worst a racist.

Intended or not - it proves that McCain simply lacks the mental fortitude to conduct himself in a respectable manner without committing such a horrific insensitive gaffe. McCain may have just blasted through the door if this was the race card moment ... the crowed felt it, the Brits felt it -- a lot of people felt it.

Check the tape -- make sure he wasn't misquoted .... (hint: he wasn't.)

Low-balling Sarah Palin; the new Republican game

Does playing the "low-expectations" game SO LOW for Sarah Palin become a detriment for McCain?

Think about it.

I had seriously considered that Palin has been playing possum so that she could come out and sting Joe Biden and help propel their campaign to the lofty sights of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But if she's been "playing dumb" this entire time - being protected from the press - the whole gambit ... then why all of the reports of her inability to grasp the fundamentals of what we hope every American politican actually KNOWS.

If she is playing possum and actually is a smart cookie - who was "playing dumb" just to milk it before sticking it to Joe -- then it's a production, a ruse, a fabled lie about someone's capability. It would be the trademark of someone like "Rocky," an unknown, plain-spoken type who can "come in and rescue the day!"

It makes for good Hollywood drama -- but what would the electorate think?

If in fact this is the McCain/Palin ruse then it's all been an orchestrated LIE on the American people. The press would certainly NOT hold anything back considering she's already given several gaffes already -- so it would only paint her as being manipulating and unapologetic for duping Americans into thinking she was someone she wasn't just so that she could ramp up the debate on Joe.

Of course we have to presume that she's smart enough to develop this kind of ruse or have it bestowed upon her by the inordinate amount of staff that has been prepping the Alaskan governor.

All of this shouldn't be surprising given the party that brought us all: "Shock and Awe" and a conspiracy theory about Iraq's involvement in 9/11 that has precipitated in the Middle East rapid destabilization of the region and juvenile secrecy that this administration (and the pretenders who have protected the administration time and time again...)

Maybe the Republicans are set on playing games with the American people -- which is probably why their latest antics about being utter cry-babies about the Wall St. bail out is really not setting well with me. With their "games" at play, maybe we shouldn't be at all surprised if Palin comes out and connects a few times -- showing the nation that she's more than just the ditzy beauty pageant queen she's presented herself as. Blaming the press for your miscues, misstatements and utter incompetence resonates the fact that she doesn't have a point really....

Don't vote - really...