"Waah Waah, I'm Not Playing Anymore"

Well, I told myself I wasn't going to have another angry political post but John McCain called my bluff.

So John McCain says he's not going to debate. What a baby. If the old analogy is true and politics is a chess game, McCain's chosen move seems to be to kick over the board when his king is in check. Or a similar move that my friends and I would use when playing video games in junior high: when about to lose a game on Nintendo 64 one simply runs up to the console, flips the power switch and shouts "no proof!"

Really, I can't believe this. McCain is making a mockery of American politics. The nationally televised debate has been a fixture of the presidential campaign since the Kennedy/Nixon debate in 1960 and McCain is saying that he can just change the rules? I honestly don't believe for a second that his call to suspend campaigns because of the economic crisis holds water. Yes, on the surface this seems like a noble gesture to "focus on the nation" when we are in a time of crisis. But how are having two senators who have been heavily campaigning for the past few months and have been out of direct Congressional action have such a major effect on the policy decision? Also, everything I have read since McCain's announcement yesterday has said that, for at least the Democratic side, Congress DOESN'T WANT THEM THERE. And who can blame them, who would want to have a presidential photo op in the middle of their Congressional debate? It really doesn't make sense. Also, as brought up by the Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, "Does McCain think Congress will be in session at 9 o'clock Friday night?" (This statement is from an article in the New York Times. I would link it but I can't find the article right now. Sorry).

I may be slightly partisan, but I agree with Obama's statement that this is exactly the time when America needs to hear from the presidential candidates the most. Shouldn't we get a chance to hear how the men we are electing to run our country plan to deal with this economic situation? You should really watch Obama's recent video after McCain's announcement. And lucky for you, I just learned how to embed video, so you get to see it right on this page! See you in approximately seventeen minutes.



Wow wee, technology is fun. Anyway, as you have seen from the video, Obama makes the point that there are only 40 days left in this campaign and it is time that the American people finally see the candidates face to face talking about the actual issues. There has been too much personal crap and emphasis on character in this election. We are talking about Obama's religious beliefs, McCain's war record, and Palin's son's hockey games while meanwhile the country is going to shit. I for one am pissed. And I have been waiting with bated breath for these debates for weeks. Why do I care so much, you ask? Because I have a belief that the debates will uncover once and for all the lies and sleight-of-hand tricks that the McCain campaign is run on. And from McCain's avoidance of the debate I can tell the McCain camp feels the same way. You can talk all you want about how much ass you're going to kick before you get in the ring, but once you're in the ring no one's going to help you. You're gonna have to box or get knocked out.

McCain is trying to find another option, an option where he can continue talking without ever having to fight. This to me is unacceptable and an insult to the American political system (I'm pretty sure I used that line in the last post, but McCain is bringing out the redundancy in me). McCain is trying to use this economic crisis to his advantage and trying to skirt by without showing the American people what he is really made of.

...But wait, there's more. Did you think I could go through an entire ranting political post without talking about Sarah Palin? Being my arch-nemesis and the devil herself, I am obligated to bring the Ice Queen into this post somewhere. So here's the kicker: McCain wants to reschedule the first presidential debate for the night of the Vice Presidential debates were scheduled! Oops, sorry I guess Sarah Palin won't have to answer any questions, oh well. I mean I can't believe this! Sarah Palin has been a Vice Presidential candidate for a month and done all of two interviews, one of which being with Sean Hannity, which was little more than a Republican circle jerk (pardon the term, but seriously, Hannity's hard hitting questions went along the lines of, "Sarah, why do you think *insert policy issue or character flaw* makes Barack Obama a bad presidential candidate?" It was ridiculous). The American people need to hear what kind of an imbecile this woman is next to Joe Biden. Oh yes, remember Joe Biden? You know, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee? Yeah, he's still running for vice president. The fact that the McCain/Palin campaign is exhibiting so much secrecy before they even get in office makes me very scared for the future.

And what's worse is that this avoidance tactic is working. As part of my obsessing over this presidential election I check Gallup.com every day for the latest polls. Obama has had a lead in the polls for the last week and a half, reaching as high as a 50% to 44% margin. Since McCain's announcement yesterday that he was calling off the campaign and the debate "for the sake of the nation," the polls are dead even 46% to 46%. It worked. Excuse me while I go weep for America.

Man, remember back in 2000, when McCain was the Maverick, the moderate Republican that Democrats could like, the man that would go across the aisle and fight for what he believed in no matter what his party's platform was? It makes me sad just thinking of it. I've been thinking about this transition for awhile and it made me wonder, when did this happen? When did the man I believed in who epitomized the possibility of compromise in American politics turn into the John McCain that will do any crazy stunt possible to pander to the Republican base? Well, last night I found what I believe to be the exact moment. Below you will find a clip from an episode of the Daily Show on April 4, 2006. In this clip, Jon Stewart interviews John McCain about his decision to give the commencement speech at Liberty University, the university founded by rightwing fundamentalist Jerry Fallwell, a man who McCain had once labled an "agent of intolerance." Stewart questions McCain on his action, clearly in disbelief that a man who was such a great friend to the Daily Show and a symbol of the rational center of American politics could make such a partisan move. The most telling part of the clip is towards the end when Stewart asks McCain if he is pandering to the fundamentalist Republican base saying, "are you going into crazy base world?" McCain answers candidly, "I'm afraid so."



Well John McCain, I'm sorry you had to do it. You were a good man with honest politics and I'm sad to see you go so far against what you once believed in.

And I will leave you with that readers. Perhaps my next post will be less angry, perhaps not. It certainly is easier to write what you feel and what I feel right now is an intense anger about the direction in which our country is going. Until next time, keep your heads down, and I wish America the best in the coming weeks.

Tootles,

Danger P.