THROWING COLD WATER...

... on unrealistic expectations. Even Obama insiders are saying the rhetoric won't match reality:
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/31/obama-lays-plans-kill-expectations-election-victory/

OBAMA INFOMERCIAL TIME

My quick takes/notes on the big TV show? Nicely produced, slick, manipulative. Promises, promises. Narrow targeting geared to that mysterious "haven't figured it out yet" voter block. Way too obvious in it's "diversity" of participants. Message and them: All of America is struggling and only I, The One, can fix it all. Answer to all questions: Government is the answer. And he didn't even have to offer a two-fer deal on "ShamWOW"!

MRS. OBAMA'S MAKEOVER: Notice how she's now "Mom-in-Chief" and not the old political advocate? Not a coincidence: timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/

FOLLOW THE MONEY

Obama's accepting more questionable donations, so notes that "bastion of conservatism" (ha!) the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/28/AR2008102803413_pf.html

GEORGE ORWELL'S GHOST: Must be writing the script for this year's election. The latest magic monent has Barack Obama saying (about McCain's charges of "redistribution"), "John McCain calls it SOCIALISM... I call it OPPORTUNITY!" Uh huh. I guess we'll just call communism "progressive", too.

NOT SO FAST

More evidence of the media in the bag for Obama. A New Mexico newspaper decided to run an "Obama Wins!" headline: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/27/obama-wins-newspaper-declares/ We're also told by the national media that the polls are now set "in concrete", "settling in", and Obama and McCain are now "summing up" and "finishing" their messages on the campaign trail. Huh? New revelations are coming nearly every hour between now and next Tuesday, with plenty of Americans who are still unsure. So why would the media want to tell us it's "over"? Hmmmmm...

OBAMA'S SKEWED CONSTITUTIONAL VIEW: From today's Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122515067227674187.html Americans should be very concerned about the "judicial legacy" set in motion by the next president.

THIS TIME IT'S NOT JOE THE PLUMBER

Now it's more of Barack Obama's own words about "wealth redistribution" making big news. He got into the issue in a (just surfaced) 2001 interview in Chicago: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2008/10/27/will-msm-continue-ignoring-shocking-obama-redistribution-wealth-audio So far the mainstream media is ignoring the story, but it may have a huge impact on the days leading up to the election. And it should.

MEANWHILE, SO MUCH FOR FREE SPEECH: Watch Joe Biden squirm when a local news anchor grills him with questions the mainstream dinosaur media should have asked weeks ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQXcImQfubM Obama-Biden demonstrated their support for free speech by cutting off interview access for the TV station.

VISITING GRANDMA

I'm a big family values guy and think it's nice of Sen. Obama to go and visit his ailing grandmother.  But is is necessary for the national media to milk this story for the past three or four days? I heard it on network news every hour on my own radio show today. What's the deal... is he driving to Hawaii?  (In this story's frequency there's also the implied angle: Obama's young enough to have a grandmother among the living, vs. McCain---though his mother is an active 98.)

Also on the family front: The Obamas look like a lovely family. I still find a big disconnect when it comes to his support for abortion, and the fact that this year's Democrat national platform is the most liberal it's been on this issue.  I only hope that the anti-life movement in America doesn't accelerate "choice" at the end-of-life, too... and that elderly citizens like Obama's beloved Grandma are still allowed to be around... without government helping to pull the plug.

MEASURING FOR THE DRAPES

Senator Obama is sounding mighty confident these days: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/23/uselections2008-barackobama

REMEMBERING WALLY SCHIRRA

One of the true American heroes, Walter M. Schirra, Jr. and his crew splashed down in Apollo 7, forty years ago today. It was the first manned Apollo flight, and without the mission America would have never gone to the moon. He was one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, a longtime San Diego resident and good friend. After his passing last year the ARCS Foundation (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) San Diego chapter establish the Wally Schirra Memorial Endowment Scholarship. Please help us complete this very important project by making a donation today. Here's more information:
http://arcsfoundation.org/sandiego/ARCS_3.asp?CID=13&PID=18
Thank you very much!

IN A TRANCE FOR OBAMA

OK, this video's pretty creepy: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2008/10/21/manifest-obama-video-cultish-new-agers-envision-obama-presidency
And they're using a Christian worship song to warm the crowd to Barack. That's repulsive. Just like other adoring fans calling him "Savior" and "Messiah". I know the real Savior. Obama's not "Him".

THE "MESSIAH" DOESN'T FLINCH

Watch Barack Obama's reaction to Matt Lauer's descriptions of "The One": http://newsbusters.org/blogs/geoffrey-bl-obama-how-will-you-manage-expectations-being-messiah It's almost like Obama is somehow accepting of all the "exalted" titles. Give me a break.

NEW OBAMA QUESTIONS

While the Obama-Biden camp is still busy raising questions about Joe the Plumber (attacking the messenger in the hope that Americans will ignore Joe's message), it seems The One has some explaining to do when it comes to ethics: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/john-stephenson/2008/10/19/obama-broke-ethics-law-state-senator-will-media-ignore

HOW DARE HE?

That seems to be the mood of the pro-Obama forces in their lunatic attacks on Joe the Plumber.
It's not the "real Joe" that matters here, or the "lack of vetting" the McCain camp did (huh?) the real issue is that Obama's adoring fans can't stand anyone asking a pointed question and exposing the Democrat for what he is: A tax and spend, welfare state (I'll add pro-abortion) candidate. Is their reaction a dress rehearsal for what to expect in the world of free speech if Obama wins?

MORE REASONS TO BE VERY, VERY CONCERNED: A Democratic super-majority in the House and Senate: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

DUMPING ON JOE

Here they go again. The left-wing nuts-on-the-fringe (like at the Daily Kos) are now shifting their hate-Palin obsession to "Joe the Plumber": How dare he speak clearly about what "wealth redistribution" is!  And he was mentioned over 20 times in a presidential debate!!! Maybe he's a McCain "plant"!!!!  He's not licensed!!!!!!!  He might not even be a good plumber!!!!!!!!!!  (Bonus criticism: McCain botched Joe's last name.. ah HA!!!!!!!!!!!!)

No matter what, all of this frenzy doesn't take away from what he said while helping Sen. Obama ramble enough to reveal his core beliefs on what government should do with your money. The detractors are going crazy (or crazier) because of Joe's content in his remarks. He told the truth. They can't stand Gov. Palin because of her pro-life stance and faith in God. Now here comes a working man who takes on Obama about taxes and socialism and he's piled on. All of this from many people who claim to be tolerant, loving and for the "working people" of America. Good grief.

Meanwhile, on the stump today, Sen. Biden had another funny gaffe: In talking about what really matters in this campaign he referred to a little "three letter word"... then proceeded to spell it: J-O-B-S.  So much for math.  They demonized Dan Quayle for the "potatoe" incident, but don't expect anything on Biden's latest. Collect the entire set!

JOE THE PLUMBER, STILL TICKED

Despite Obama's explanation of his tax policy, Joe W. the now-famous plumber is still unconvinced. And he mades more sense than most politicians: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/joe-the-plumber.html

MYSTIFIED BY THE OBVIOUS

Wall Street jitters are back and the Dow dumps today. "Experts" say is because the latest retail numbers are disappointing... surprising.. even shocking. Duh. Hard to believe that smart people seem amazed as to why consumers sat on their hands (and wallets) in the last month. All they've heard is bad news, bad polls, bad advice, recession/depression talk. Surprised? Not me. America was told it's all going to hell fast so be paralyzed and hunker down on your couch. We're getting more of what we're talking ourselves into. That doesn't mean I don't believe there are real problems right now... but we're making it all worse with our moods and knee-jerk reactions, with much of it made worse by political campaign rhetoric. And the more government tinkers with the problems, the worse it seems to get. Think of how much fun an Obama administration would be with huge government growth at the expense of real-world economics. And did you notice that the day with the record-breaking positive Dow jump (Monday) was a government holiday... and banks were closed? Hmmmm....

MORE OBAMA AND THE PLUMBER

You've got to see the full discussion on taxes and wealth... very revealing when it comes to what Senator Obama really thinks about success in America. Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFC9jv9jfoA

TONIGHT'S DEBATE: McCain needs to ignore the "help" from Obama's camp and bring up the issues... whether it's the real story on taxes, abortion, gun rights... and yes, even characters like Ayers.

LOOKING AHEAD

Fred Barnes at the Weekly Standard details what the future could be like with Obama, the House and Senate all in sync: http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/

HERE COME THE THUGS

How crazy could the clamp-down get in an Obama administration? Michael Barone has some predictions: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/13/the-coming-thugocracy/print/

THE PLOT THICKENS

Barack Obama now says he thought radical Bill Ayers was "rehabilitated":
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2008/10/10/will-msm-challenge-obama-assumption-bill-ayers-was-rehabilitated Does this story about Ayers matter? You bet. One's character is reflected by the characters who influence you. And isn't it curious how the Obama camp says this issue is desperation by McCain yet obesses with it? There's fire in the smoke and the mainstream dinosaur media should get on it. Not only with Ayers but with other less-than-stellar buddies who've influenced Obama through his life and career.

THIS WOULD BE ILLEGAL: If the report is true regarding what Sen. Obama alleged did in Iraq to undermine the President. Here's the story: http://washtimes.com/news/2008/oct/10/obama-sought-to-sway-iraqis-on-bush-deal/

HUBBA HUBBA

The Associated Press is running photos of Sarah Palin... sort of. Actually tight shots of her calves and spunky shoes, along with adoring fans peering (leering?) at the VP candidate. Newsbusters.org asks if feminist groups would allow this sort of thing if the candidate was a Democrat. You be the judge... here are the photos: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/10/08/indecent-wire-service-pictures-sarah-palin

FEELING THE THRILL

Our friends at MRC have done a lovely video showing Chris Matthew's long-standing adoration of Obama. They also detail Matthew's deep attraction in his latest debate analysis. Read the report and see the video here: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2008/10/08/chris-matthews-mccain-has-menacing-smile-obamas-debonair

MY FRIENDS...

This was a night of missed opportunities. The John McCain I know personally was caught up in earmark minutae (again) and reminding people (again) that he can "reach across the aisle". Swell. Gaining "presence" in a forum is all about the opening... and Senator McCain started with rambling. The "town hall" format is his best situation, and it hasn't been used to his advantage. Maybe he's tired, maybe he's cautious. This was not the night to be "nice". First problem: The question about whose responsibility? Who is responsible for the current economic crisis? Missed the chance to tell is like it was..and is. McCain should have nailed the current Democrat leadership regarding Fannie and Freddie. And what was the deal about "buying up" bad mortgages? Didn't we just sorta do that with the bailout/rescue? Is there money stashed in DC that we don't know about? He also totally missed the opening to expose Obama's "tax cut for 95% of the people" claim. Brokaw was good early on when he took control of the debate format (unlike Lehrer and Gwen). McCain's "my friends" is a "filler" just like Obama's "uh's". Makes me want to scream. He knows better, and blew the rhythm, for whatever reason. He let Obama crank up class warfare... even enabling Obama's feeble claim that "health care is a right". Where exactly is that in the Constitution? I really like McCain, but this was an evening of frustration. He is capable of much better. Now the campaign gets tougher as time is tight.

Then there was Obama's continued fuzzy math about Iraq: We're spending $10 billion a month in money we "don't have", but he wants to spend it (this money we don't have) at home anyway. Obama screwed up the evil empire question about Russia, but the trends had been set in the debate. Bill Ayers was nowhere to be found. Obama goofed in his comment about "who among us wouldn't have gone in if we knew the Holocaust was going on?" in World War II. Uh, well, we were already "in", fighting a war with Germany, and the government knew things weren't right regarding the Nazi's treatment of the Jews. But in a world of relativism, I guess historical context doesn't matter. No one cares that Obama's sense of history is suspect at best. Overall? A huge missed opportunity for McCain, and a bigger hole to dig out of for the rest of the election season. One other thing. America clearly loves BS over substance, and loves to have the national "ears" tickled instead of really thinking it all through. Obama's "vision" has plenty of gaps, but he's mastered the method of "looking thoughtful" as he's grasping. McCain can't do that.

Does John McCain have a chance to pull it out with the next (and final) debate? Sure. But it's more diificult, and less likely.

I couldn't help thinking tonight: What would Romney have done?

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT...

...it's gonna be alright. OK, so I borrowed some of Rod Stewart's song lyrics. The Presidential Debate will be McCain's... despite the attempts of the Adoration-of-the-Obama news chorus to tell us something else happened. The "town hall" format is where the GOP candidate does best, and he has nothing to lose by getting back into his fighting (dare I say "maverick") style. He will (and must) not let Obama slide when it comes to Bill Ayers and company. He has to look at the Illinois Senator and not let up. He also needs to expose the truth about who helped create the mortgage mess. That means McCain has to listen, looking for openings to go beyond talking points... forcing Barack to desperately wish he had a teleprompter. Despite national media enabling, trying to claim (as the Dems do) that Obama didn't really "know" Ayers, there's much to be dug up here. It's not just a matter of Ayers being a "guy in his neighborgood". What are B. Obama's true core values? Here's more on this www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/10/the_real_obama.html

VIDEO FUN

And it's kinda creepy. First, here are the lovely children singing on behalf of their dear leader, Barack Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdPSqL9_mfM&feature=related
Now there's another one, this time a sort of "pledge" to the Senator saluting his inspiration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUEQz5dltmI Hey, if this kinda of thing was done on behalf of McCain is would disturb me, too. Kim Jong Il would love the regimentation and adoration in these clips.

MCCAIN'S CHALLENGE

In prepping for the next debate. the GOP candidate had better resort to the passion and smarts that I know is there. I've seen in in person, and I don't know what he was thinking in the first debate. He can do what needs to be done, but he could just as easily blow the upbeat mood in the Republican ranks since Palin's comeback on Thursday night. He has to be open, engaging, humorous when approproate. (Both top candidates can learn something from Palin's use of the camera and on how to convey upbeat Reaganeque good natured attitude.) McCain must not focus only on Obama's past tax record but also expose what he's planning to do on all tax levels if elected. The Democrat is out touting how much more he wants to "do" (aka "spend" on behalf of every special interst group, under the guise of "helping" everyday people). This is on top of the bailout/rescue plan passed yesterday. That money has to come from somewhere: taypayers who are already feeling burned. His plan is a real job killer just when the economy is on the ropes... and the ropes are fraying. McCain needs to look forward and portray and clear, understandable picture life under Obama. He also needs to listen during the debate. In fact, both candidates do. Getting off talking points and responding to what's unfolding "here and now"... and in the days ahead.. will be much more interesting. And revealing. Senator McCain needs to do the best job of it. One more note: GW Bush hasn't helped by effectively pushing the nation into much deeper socialism... no matter if it's with the best of motives.

ON THE ROAD: I'm in the Houston area this weekend, having spoken at events for Texas Right to Life last night and today. I'm struck by the contrasts in this area, after such a nasty hurricane, when compared with New Orleans. Yes, Katrina was more intense but there's loads of awful devastation to go around here. Friends in Galveston have had their lives ruined, people of every color facing total disaster. Yet this is being met with wide-spread cooperation and involvement, without much of the finger-pointing we saw after Katrina. Interesting. Part of it has to do with FEMA et al doing a better job, lessons learned. The situation also says much about local and state government. Clearly Texas leaders were smarter than many in positions of power in Lousiana three years ago. No wonder voters there have made some changes in recent months.

TAKE THAT

Palin scores. I'll admit it: I was uneasy about the possible results of tonight's debate. Hey, I consume news for a living, and I've been up to my ears in the negatives all week. The usual left wing spin against anything/anyone conservative/Christian/pro-life was enhanced by Gov. Palin's unsure moments in the Katie Couric Inquisitions. It was not a good few days for the McCain-Palin ticket. But I, like millions of Americans, was encouraged by Sarah Palin's strong performance in tonight's VP debate. Both candidates had their moments, but she had the most to prove. Pundits will criticize her saying "she learned her talking points". Well, so did Biden. That's the way this works. So far the biggest gaffe Palin's critics can find is her incorrect reference to a particular general. Fine, point made. Then there's the Huffington Post pointing out that a favorable overall Frank Luntz focus group on Fox News was sponsored by Budweiser. Huh? Oh yeah, the angle is that Cindy McCain has the giant Bud distributorship in Arizona. Egad. Get a life. Besides, that is countered by Biden's many flubs in recent days. Plenty of "oops" to go around. So... the person who connects with more everyday citizens (at least by tonight's measure) is Gov. Palin. Watch the polls over the next couple of days. Dick Morris may be right: Obama could have "peaked too early".

OH, DID I SAY THAT?

Senator Harry Reid does it again, adding extra angst to the nation's nervousness:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/PersonalFinance/story?id=5926400&page=1 This is irresponsible scare talk, a tactic that politicians have used for way too long. Doing so during an unusually anxious time doesn't help. Obama cranked up the rhetoric yesterday, too. Not helpful. And the Senate ought to know better than to add $150 billion in crummy add-on's to the rescue/bailout package. These people have a "spend as much as possible" makeup in their DNA. They did what the august body often does: Pulls the pin on the political hand grenade and throws it to the House of Representatives, then takes a couple of days off.

ON THE VP DEBATE: Joe Biden will step in something (or two) in gaffe-land, but it won't get much play, with the intense focus on the Governor of Alaska. Sarah Palin will do better than expected and will be back to her GOP convention style. But it won't make much difference to the "experts" who have already discounted whatever it is she's going to do. She could be Mother Theresa and they'll still hate her. Gwen-the-moderator will show America she can be objective... or at least not overly pro-Obama. Pressure's on. McCain hasn't helped the overall U.S. mood by being inconsistent over the last couple of weeks, and the campaign should get Gov. Palin out there more often, so that every (limited) interview setting doesn't have to be make-or-break pressure. Senator McCain also needs to get off the earmark mantra for now (in stump speeches and debates) and talk about the middle class, calm the nervousness in America and hammer Obama on the real cost of his tax plans... not just the Dem's promise to "cut taxes for 95%". That's not the whole story on t axes, he knows it and hopes you won't look into the rest of the story. McCain has opportunity here. The last thing Americans want during tight and tense economic times are tax increases. Note to President Bush: How about eliminating the capital gains tax... now?

MY PROBLEM WITH GEORGE SOROS

The news headline caught my eye today: George Soros offering bailout plan advice to Democrats. One of my fellow broadcasters asked me "what's your problem with Soros, all you "righties"? Well, here's Exhibit A: http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=589

TRUSTING THE "EXPERTS"

Let me get this straight: The Dow is up, bigtime, on Tuesday when Congress has the day off. Monday's Wall Street dump was blamed on the House shooting down the bailout plan. So the experts told us that Congress better get working to come up with a new plan. The Senate's doing just that, and now it looks like today's markets will open lower. Huh? Lesson: It's better when elected officials aren't showing up for work and "helping".

KATIE COURIC GONE WILD: Talk about unfair questions from the Perky One to Sarah Palin... "what newspapers and magazines doi you read?" The "gotchas" continue and it's sickening. I'm all for solid questions but let's ask them of all the candidates. And get to those pesky issues no one's touched with Obama.