Political Party: Let's Play 'Presidents and Ass******'.

Happy day off work, today, America (and Canada). While the rest of you are out on a long weekend -- travelling, barbecuing, or celebrating in your own way -- I'm here, with nothing better to do.

OK, I have better things to do.

But, last week the two sides in the Presidential Election made their selections of running mates to help head the tickets. As always, I have an opinion.

Ironically, the title of this blog might be a bit deceiving.

Republicans: I can't tell you how much they make me hate politics, right now. It's never been a secret that I oppose the political party system. Last week, and this week, just remind me why.

Now, the Democrats seem to be getting on my good side, nothing really controversial there. The Republicans are really starting to piss me off. (Actually, they've had me pissed off for a while... but it's getting worse.) I don't mind the normal politics that go on -- those can be ignored... or at least I can claim I've become accustomed to them.

But, two things are really bothering me. First of all, the selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate. I have no problems with her. I'm sure she is very qualified for the position. In fact, I think mayors and governors are more qualified to handle the Executive Branch offices, than Senators and Representatives cough*laywers*cough, because they have to deal with ALL the facets of the world in their decisions.

What is grinding my gears, is that it is dirty politics by the Republican party as a whole. I would love to think that Palin was the first choice for the job. Let's face it, she wasn't. Nobody had even mentioned her. It is clear that McCain and the Elephants are using Palin because of her gender. It is a clear attack on Barack Obama for not choosing Hillary Clinton as his running mate. That should not be the point being made.

We will revisit Hillary in just a few moments.

The major issue I have with the selection of Palin, is that she is out of play for attacks. Really, I love the idea that you can't make a personal attack on someone in a campaign. It should be law. But it's not, and Palin will be the only one of the four ticket-headers who will be off limits. That makes it an unfair advantage for the Republicans, and thus cheating.

Nothing against Palin and her family. But really, what the Republicans have done is make an issue of a non-issue, while unintentionally making an issue of what should be a non-issue turned issue by the limelight, yet decreeing it a non-issue. (Everybody got that?)

OK, in slow-mo...

The Republicans are going to play up Palin's son's deployment to Iraq, wrongly proclaiming: "He's a soldier, serving his country, and which makes him and his parents patriots!"

His decision to serve, has nothing to do with Palin. Her son made the decision on his own, and did so AFTER Palin started her political career.

The Reds (LOL... I think that's what I should call them from now on.) Will also push the son's service as the end result of good parenting.

But there is a major problem... two, actually. What about the un-wed pregnant teenage daughter? Somebody was too busy with work to pay attention to the kids -- and that works as a strike against both men and women. Beyond that, the Reds will declare her parenting skills out of bounds, because her youngest child -- an infant -- has Down's Syndrome.

You can't be selective here. This is not poker. It's all in, or all out. Either there can be mention of the children at all, or everything is fair game -- like the fact that she hid her most recent pregnancy for eight months.

In summary, while we are currently living out the final 8 years of Michael Moore's "Canadian Bacon" (where America declares war because war boosts the President's approval ratings), we are not potentially looking at 4 more years of life based on a movie. Should McCain win, we will be living in Aaron Sorkin's "The American Preisdent" (where Richard Dreyfus claims to have lost an election because he could run a personal attack campaign because Michael Douglas was a widower).



Democrats: I love the choice of Joe Biden as Obama's running mate. I am sorry that Hillary was denied a shot at history, but in the end it SHOULD not come down to who will bring you more votes... it SHOULD come down to who will bring you more votes, because they are the right person for the job.

Now, this blog could turn very biased, very quick. Let's just say that about a year ago, before the primaries, I visited a website where I put in my personal opinions on the issues and how much they matter to me. The website matched me with my ideal Presidential Candidate.

It was Joe Biden.

Ironically, about a week before I took that online survey, I had the opportunity to meet Senator Biden here in Omaha, when he made a speech on campus. I also met his neice -- who was a very lovely young woman. I really enjoyed the extended conversation I had with her, and wish I could continue to talk to her -- but, let's face it... not going to happen. That is, unless she stumbles across this blog and remembers who I am.

Back on topic, Joe Biden's stance on many issues are in line with mine. Therefore, to keep this blog from becoming overwhelmingly one-sided, I will end the conversation over Biden, here.

Bet we can look at why I didn't think Clinton was a good choice as a Vice President. I'm sure Senator Obama would agree that Clinton was worthy of the nomination, both for President and Vice President. I am also certain that, should he win, he will have a place for her.

I'm thinking Secretary of State.

Despite the fact that a family friend of mine frequently refers to Clinton's husband as "that sleazeball Razorback", and despite Bill's lapses in moral judgement, the Clintons were able to do something I still have not seen President Bush (II) do. When it came to foreign dignitaries, the Clintons were true diplomats -- and did nothing to embarrass themselves.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Clintons' diplomacy, not to mention their experience in the White House would best serve the country on the international stage.



So there you have it. My opinions on the choices for Vice President in this year's election.

Now, I'm off to figure out how Major League Baseball allowed half the league to have Labor Day off. It used to be that everybody played on Labor Day, and ESPN used to show three or four games.

Humbug.