McCain...

Ack. Totally opinion today. Sorry.

I've been staying away from politics for the most part, lately -- I'm afraid of what we are about to enter into -- I think the potential for a really humanly ugly six months is really high... Furthermore -- when, 12 years ago -- I was in J-school covering politics in Washington -- McCain really was an innovative maverick -- pursuing bipartisanship and many important, progressive initiatives.

But with McCain's choice in Palin I suddenly feel the urgency again -- it's a funny play between pessimism and reality setting in...

From McCain's transcript yesterday --
"And, finally, a word to Senator Obama and his supporters. We'll go at it all over the next two months -- you know that's the nature of this business -- and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and my admiration."

NO. You cannot offer me your respect and admiration and then do what you are about to do. Because I do not believe John McCain is racist I think what I imagine is about to transpire is even worse...

"We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger. We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and Senator Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust, when we valued our power over our principles. We’re going to change that. We’re going to recover the people’s trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire."


Thomas Friedman wrote an amazing column on Tuesday. I highly recommend it.

here's the link
or you can go to the times and search for Friedman.
Here's the first two paragraphs -- but really, when I read his articles sometimes I just wish I was him.

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: September 2, 2008

As we emerge from Labor Day, college students are gathering back on campuses not only to start the fall semester, but also, in some cases, to vote for the first time in a presidential election. There is no bigger issue on campuses these days than environment/energy. Going into this election, I thought that — for the first time — we would have a choice between two “green” candidates. That view is no longer operative — and college students (and everyone else) need to understand that.

With his choice of Sarah Palin — the Alaska governor who has advocated drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and does not believe mankind is playing any role in climate change — for vice president, John McCain has completed his makeover from the greenest Republican to run for president to just another representative of big oil.

...

So, college students, don’t let anyone tell you that on the issue of green, this election is not important. It is vitally important, and the alternatives could not be more black and white.



The times also ran this groovy little bubble graphic illustrating how often candidates used specific words in their speeches.

Obama said Mc Cain 78 times.
McCain said Obama 25 times.
Obama said Energy 49 times.
McCain said Energy 26 times.
Obama said Iraq 25 times.
McCain said Irap 16 times.


Oil didn't make the list.