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Friday, August 29, 2008

How John McCain Made My Day

I never thought I'd say that.

***

First, I was so happy to see this photo on the front page of the newspaper this morning:

And then, of all people, John McCain made my day, by doing this:

Picking as his running mate someone who's been the Governor of Alaska for two years? Guess that argument about Obama not having enough experience is going to fly out the window now. Please don't tell me that he put a woman on the ticket just because he thought he could pick up some disgruntled Hillary supporters?

From the McCain campaign: ...as head of the Alaska National Guard and the mother of a soldier herself is evidence that she "understands what it takes to lead our nation..."

(Yeah, I know it ain't over till it's over. But still...)

I'm looking forward to seeing that lovely young family in the White House.

***

(And someone brought donuts to work, so now I'm really stoked.)

First photo from SF Gate. Second photo from the International Herald Tribune, which BTW is a great place to get your news.

19 comments:

Anonymous August 29, 2008 at 9:53 AM  

Donuts, I could use a donut.
Thanks for your note about Paris, I can't email from work (although I can cruise blogs haha), will write you later in the weekend.
Kath

tangobaby August 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM  

Hi Kath,

Let's pretend I ate that donut for you, how's that?

Please do email me anytime...as I cannot wait to dish Paris with you!

christina August 29, 2008 at 12:24 PM  

Doughnuts?! Uhem... I am on my way! Give it up McCain!! We women are much too smart for that!

Tess Kincaid August 29, 2008 at 12:34 PM  

That's a lovely pic of the Obama family! They are gorgeous, aren't they?

You know...I haven't had a donut in the longest time...and now I've got this craving...

Anonymous August 29, 2008 at 12:57 PM  

We are on exactly the same page on this one. As soon as I saw the news story about Palin, I had the exact same thoughts as you. Seems like a desperation move by McCain, like a hail mary pass in the last five seconds of a football game. I can't wait to see the debates between the vice presidential candidates. She will get erased by Biden.

tangobaby August 29, 2008 at 2:02 PM  

Hi christina,

They are all gone now. I moved onto a BLT...

From what I've read about Palin, she's very conservative and I'm sure she will appeal to many people. But I don't think the Hillary supporters will automatically share her politics.

Hi willow,

Isn't that just the best photo? I couldn't love it any more if I had taken it myself.

I apologize about the donut. I was excited.

Hi dutchbaby,

I was going to say the same thing about the VP debate. I'll expect that Biden will sweep the floor with her and this may almost be something that you might be able to watch in a sports bar.

My only fear (which I know to be founded because I remember watching the polls come in on two election years past) is that where we live in California is so incredibly different than other areas of the country that what I take for granted as a done-deal may not work out at all the way I expected.

I have a feeling that the McCain machine is going to spin this lady into a freaking saint and a lot of people are going to buy it in a BIG way.

paris parfait August 29, 2008 at 3:22 PM  

I stayed up until 5 a.m. watching the Democratic Convention and was thrilled with Obama's very impressive speech. We have to work hard to make sure Obama and his family get to the White House. The alternative is just too awful to contemplate. xoxox

Vanessa August 29, 2008 at 3:55 PM  

My thoughts exactly, TBaby! We owe John McCain a thank-you note, don't you think? (And I'm not even American, just a compassionate citizen of the world who understands that when the U.S. sneezes, the rest of us catch a cold.) The choice of a VP is, I feel, a most crucial indicator of sound judgment. This is, in true ICHC fashion, epic fail!

tangobaby August 29, 2008 at 5:18 PM  

Hi Paris Parfait,

I know, I hear you. I remember quite vividly watching election results come in the past two times, and the sinking realization that this country has very divergent views of who they want to lead them.

I thought the speeches were wonderful, all of them. But it's reaching out to those in the middle, the undecided, the afraid. How to do that, and make it real?

The irresponsible media with its "polls" and how it writes history before it even happens frightens me as much as some of our politicians do.

Hi Vanessa,

Yes, when you consider that you don't have to be 72 to die unexpectedly, but either way, these VPs need to be able to step up and take over immediately, do I want someone who is experienced and can work on a world stage, or someone who's been in office for 20 months?

WE need educated, more informed leaders who understand extremely complicated issues. I do not want a self-proclaimed "hockey mom" to be in a position where she might need to lead our nation. We've already had a good ol' boy and look where that got us.

Nancy Ewart August 29, 2008 at 8:28 PM  

I thought this was a very clever move by McCain. The anti-Obama crowd are in 7th heaven, saying that being a gov trumps being a senator and how, since she's got 6 (?) kids, she's a better all around candidate than Biden, etc. Frankly, this scares me as she can - and will -play every card in the book from sympathy to being a working mom to "I have more experience than you do." If Biden tries to debate her honestly, he will have to be careful not to look like a bully. Unfortunately, I think this means that the race is a lot closer than before.

tangobaby August 29, 2008 at 8:41 PM  

Hi namastenancy,

Yes, after my sugar rush from the donut wore off, I spent all my free minutes today trying to read as much as I could about Sarah Palin, considering that I had never heard of her before 8:30am this morning.

I agree with you on every point. Palin is obviously ambitious, self-made and hard-working. She is hugely popular as an elected official, no easy feat in this day and age.

It is going to be extremely challenging to walk this tight rope for the Democratic Party, going forward. They will have to abandon citing her lack of experience or else invite more scrutiny of Obama. The NRA, creationism in schools, corruption fighting outsider? I think the Dems have a a different job ahead of them now.

How does that Chinese saying go? "May you live in interesting times?" I think the next 68 days or so are going to be VERY interesting. Hubris is dangerous...the Dems better watch out. This will go down to the wire.

b August 29, 2008 at 8:52 PM  

Even though I am a far-left libby, I was leaning to McCain when I read his favorite song of all time is Dancing Queen and BO's is some rap jam I've never heard of. Now that JMc's got a VP pick who is extremely hot and has huge boobs, (whereas BO has another old white guy with 36 years in OldWhiteGuyville), it's a lock. JMC FTW!

tangobaby August 29, 2008 at 9:11 PM  

Hey b,

I've got an even better scenario for you.

Since McCain has survived cancer 4 times and I'm guessing that the average male's life expectancy is oh, what...72 years or so, you may get the hot babe as your president and maybe they'll play Dancing Queen at her inauguration as an sentimental ode to JMC.

Personally, I really don't understand how a set of mammary glands can incite such a departure from rational, but I've had mine for some time now so I guess I don't think about boobs as much as other people might. Hugh Hefner was a brilliant guy.

All joking aside, since Americans as a whole seem to be more focused on appearances and less on things like say, science education, jobs and diplomacy, perhaps we just let the boobs and pretty faces take over. And let's drill a million holes in Alaska while we're at it 'cause god knows in 20 years we could be getting oil from there and that will get us out of Iraq.

I think I'm going to need another donut.

tangobaby August 29, 2008 at 9:13 PM  

Rational thought. See, I'm so worked up now I can't even write a sentence.

;-)

b August 29, 2008 at 9:54 PM  

I can explain the boobs thing, or at least tell you what they teach in socio-anthropology in college: though human females are always in heat, the apes from which they descend are not. Male apes recognize heat by swollen buttocks. But humans deal with each other face-to-face more so than apes, and so we need a "frontal clue." That is why humans have the boobs they do, and why a closeup photo of cleavage cannot be distinguished from one of a butt crack. And since human females are always in heat, their breasts do not balloon up and deflate repeatedly.

Since sex and procreation are the underlying basis of all living behavior, men are designed to be extremely interested in signs of female heat, i.e. boobs.

tangobaby August 29, 2008 at 10:20 PM  

Yes, I read that book in college too. I'm still not buying it.

b August 29, 2008 at 10:37 PM  

Why not?

tangobaby August 30, 2008 at 7:11 PM  

I'd like to think we're more complex in our thinking than a sociological construct. Besides, the Naked Ape is like 30 years old already. Don't we have any new theories to throw about?

Or perhaps tits really do rule the world and I just didn't realize it until now.

b August 30, 2008 at 8:35 PM  

1) She is presently under investigation in Alaska for abuse of power

2) She strongly supports big oil (her husband works for oil company BP)

3) She believes creationism should be taught in public schools

4) She is opposed to abortion even in cases of rape and incest

5) She has no federal or international experience. Prior to being governor (for less than two years) she was only the mayor of a small Alaskan town and a beauty queen!

6) She believes global warming is a farce and is opposed to listing the polar bear as an endangered species

7) She stands for everything that Hillary Clinton stood against

8) She supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and anywhere else big oil wants

9) She supports Pebble Mine which will destroy the richest salmon run in the world

10) She supports aerial shooting of bears and wolves in Alaska

11) She is pro-war

12) She has huge boobs, plus a vagina!