Video: The Real Culprits in the Financial Mess

This is absolutely devastating. Take eight minutes to educate yourself:


Yes, many in the GOP had some fault in this FUBAR mess but it was bad policies and liberal feel-good ideas that landed us in the quicksand pit we find ourselves in. Every action has a reaction and the result of the Dems actions--led by Barney frank, Chris Dodd and Barack Obama--is the abyss we now find ourselves staring into.

The GOP as a whole and McCain in particular have to pound this point home at every opportunity. Not the media is trying to get past the blame game because they know damn well who's to blame and is pushing the let's find an answer rhetoric. I say, yeah, let's solve it while simultaneously hammering them. McCain should say clearly this evening that Barack Obama took 49 times more than he did from Fannie Mae and the most over the last several years. Point out that he is associated with those who allowed this to happen while enriching themselves. Put Obama on the spot because this is an issue that affects every American and we are scared about the consequences.

Palinmania is Contagious

If there were ever a VP selection that elicited a greater outpouring of emotion than Gov. Sarah Palin, I'm hard-pressed to find him. From the moment it appeared it may be her to now, she's had an effect on both sides that's is so palpable as to be mind-boggling.

For Conservatives, she is a blessing and a warrior who has no problem praising Hillary one second then pummeling Barack Obama the next. It's a true marvel to watch and as Politico notes, she's devastating in her ruthlessness yet still comes off as nice:

When she finally takes aim at the opposition, her attacks are delivered in perky, dulcet tones that polish off the sharp edges.

Many forget that most people weren't paying attention until the last few weeks and the hits at Barack Obama don't seem as edgy to them as it does those who've been writing about the campaign for a year or so. She delivers stinging criticism with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. A rare talent indeed.

The other side has had a reaction that borders on insanity. They have the same gut reaction to Palin that we do to Hillary. Why, because we all thought Hillary was going to be the candidate we were going to have to defeat so we constantly called attention to her penchant for political expediency and her shrewd political mien. Instead, we got Obama.

Palin elicits hatred from the Democrats that took us on the right years to develop--I guess their collective hatred gland is about as quick and unthinking as a teenagers pituitary gland.

She's the real deal folks and it has the Obama campaign in a lather. They've lost their groove to the point that Biden is a stuttering fool talking of Hillary as a better candidate and asking wheelchair-bound men to stand up at rallies.

Granted, Palin has not said much except regurgitating her acceptance speech. That's got to change soon. If it doesn't, she's not going to maintain her popularity at current levels until November.

It's go time and we all await Sarah Palin speaking with Charlie Gibson.

Big Gain McCain: Leads Ohio and Colo.

Ohio was the state that won it for Bush in 2004 and looks to be one of the battleground states again with Colorado and Pennsylvania.

McCain made a nice move post-convention in the Buckeye state:

The latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Ohio, finds John McCain out in front of Barack Obama 51% to 44%.

McCain is viewed favorably by 63% of Ohio voters and unfavorably by 35%. Obama’s ratings are 50% favorable, 48% unfavorable.

So...Mavericky. The favorables show just how much people have stopped believing in the "hope and change" BS.

And what of Colorado?

The poll, released Monday by the Tarrance Group, shows Republican John McCain leading Democrat Barack Obama 47 percent to 45 percent in the presidential race in Colorado.

Pennsylvania is a different animal altogether. Philly is overwhelmingly black yet the rest of the state is rural farmers and coal miners until we hit the next urban area, Pittsburgh, a largely blue collar area. If I were McCain, I play Obama over and over calling Pennsylvanians "clingers" to guns guns and religion (Sarah Palin rammed that home during the convention). It will work wonders. Plus, Pennsy's bow hunting season starts this Saturday an hour before sunrise, I'd like to see Gov. Palin take down a ten-point whitetail hanging out with the boys in Lehigh County. It probably wouldn't do to have pix of her field dressing it though.

Gov. Sarah Palin Paying Huge Dividends

When John McCain announced his selection of Sarah Palin the day after Barack Obama's acceptance speech, it was seen as a savvy political move; he had no idea just how smart this gutsy selection was:

The Republican National Convention has given John McCain and his party a significant boost, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken over the weekend shows, as running mate Sarah Palin helps close an "enthusiasm gap" that has dogged the GOP all year.

McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama by 50%-46% among registered voters, the Republicans biggest advantage since January and a turnaround from the USA TODAY poll taken just before the convention opened in St. Paul. Then, he lagged by 7 percentage points.

That's a serious post-convention bump, especially after they cunningly robbed Obama of any bump he could have hoped for after speaking in front of the Greek temple or whatever the hell that thing was.

But what about likely voters, which is a more telling survey:

In the new poll, taken Friday through Sunday, McCain leads Obama by 54%-44% among those seen as most likely to vote. The survey of 1,022 adults, including 959 registered voters, has a margin of error of +/— 3 points for both samples.

So at the very least, McCain is up by 7 percentage points in a race that was supposed to be a runaway for Obama. That, my friends, is the Palin Effect and it's energized the GOP like we've not seen in years--at least since Bush-Gore in 2000.

Other tidbits:

• Before the convention, Republicans by 47%-39% were less enthusiastic than usual about voting. Now, they are more enthusiastic by 60%-24%, a sweeping change that narrows a key Democratic advantage. Democrats report being more enthusiastic by 67%-19%.

• Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a national unknown before McCain chose her for the ticket 10 days ago, draws a strong reaction from voters on both sides. Now, 29% say she makes them more likely to vote for McCain, 21% less likely.

She's got the base jacked up like no other VP choice could have and barring any major mistakes or revelations will potentially push the Maverick over the top. Of course, if Jim Geraghty is prescient, it could be the craziest election we've ever seen and all bets are off.

Finally, this is anecdotal but I was at a football party today (yes, the Eagles kicked the Rams asses) and the consensus is that Palin is well-liked by everyone. These aren't political people by any stretch but everyone was taken with her speech. Interestingly, the only people who bring up the question of experience is women.

McCain and Obama to Appear Together at Ground Zero

A good idea. Neither can accuse the other of playing politics because 3,000 lives lost is not a partisan issue.

The good thing is that this will bring the media out in force and put the issue back in the minds of the American public. Sadly, it has lost much of the emotional impact and subsequently the threat of Islamic terror has receded. believe me, it hasn't receded in Pakistan, Afganistan, Hezbollah-held areas in Lebanon, Iran or any of the other radical Islamic strongholds.

History will look back on the War on Terror executed by President Bush and his actions will be looked upon favorably as he has put those who wish to attack us on the defensive for the last seven years. the feeling of fear was everywhere in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 but the Bush plan has kept us from being attacked again.

Update:

Leading the country to safety and security after it has been attacked and 3,000 citizens killed in a morning -- that takes courage and we've only seen that in one man. The next President had better possess that sort of courage as well.

Palin Watch

It's day six and Sarah Palin is still the only story the media gives a damn about. Here's the lowdown from today:

Peggy Noonan isn't on board with the Sarah Palin pick evidently. It kind of kills the sentiments she put forth here, doesn't it.

Jim Treacher is back writing at his own blog and tearing it up.

Senator McCain is standing by his pick and he even had this moment where he met Bristol Palin's husband-to-be.

The highly irritating Dr. Laura jumps in the fray and slams McCain. Does anyone still listen to her annoying drivel?

Victor Davis Hanson comes up with a new word that will live on like "swiftboating" has.

Tonight's a most crucial night for Sarah Palin and I for one am pulling hard for her. Many on the left will criticize her for anything and everything regardless but they've managed to lower expectations dramatically so the pressure is reduced somewhat. It doesn't mater, those people will never vote for her and they're not the target anyway. Many others who have not heard her speak will hear her for the first time this evening and she is an eloquent speaker to be sure. She can win over some folks tonight and at the very least make others take notice.

Good luck, Governor.

Update: Credit where it's due. One liberal womens group stands up for Palin. They make it crystal clear they don't like her ideology but can't be called hypocrite neither.

Also, the media didn't report anything about John Edwards because it was in the National Enquirer--a tabloid. Let's see if they can bring themselves to ignore this unsourced garbage. I guarantee they'll use the Edwards wasn't running for anythinga nd Palin is line.

The Appeal of Palin

This will be the last all Palin, all the time post but she has the entire country intrigued. Just think, last Thursday, no one but me and a few other political geeks outside of Alaska even knew who she was. Today, everyone is talking about her. McCain couldn't have even foreseen this much buzz.

The last few days have seen a whirlwind of activity from her being named after breathless hours of speculation to a speech that made Conservatives cheer and Democrats take notice to the lefty scum taking aim at her daughter and the eventual admission that her daughter is in fact pregnant.

Four days we've had to get to know her and amazingly--as put by someone I read today--we know her better than we know Obama. We know she was a hoops player, is a hunter and angler, was a sportscaster, has problems just like any other normal family and is not afraid to duke it out with whoever gets in her way. In other words, she's human. She doesn't resonate elitism or intellectualism because she--like most in Alaska--is a down-to-Earth person who puts on no airs.

People have made snap judgements and I'm sure you heard several different opinions while drinking beers at Labor Day picnics but I've a feeling she'll make those who immediately doubted her think twice. They'll see her speak tomorrow night at the convention and they'll see her go toe to toe with "plagiarism Joe" on national TV. She's withstood more intense media scrutiny since Friday than Barack Obama has his entire campaign and she's still there, still fighting and still keeping that fire in her belly alight.

Do I agree with everything she stands for? No, but then Bush 's (and McCain's) stance on immigration is the exact opposite of mine. George H.W. Bush raised taxes and the great Ronald Reagan granted illegal aliens amnesty. If any of us are awaiting the perfect candidate, you'll never vote. Libs seem to think Obama is that perfect but they are looking through rose-colored, coke bottle thick glasses.

Give her a couple of weeks and then let's reassess, but for me, I'm on her bandwagon unless something seriously breaks that actually has significance to the campaign. And no, her daughter getting pregnant doesn't even register on that scale. I'll give this military mom a chance because she's more like me and my family than any candidate of the last fifty years

Lefty Blogger Bitter Reaction to Palin Pick

The feminists at Feministing are livid about the selection of a woman because--judging by the comments--McCain hates women as do all Republicans but just did it because _______________ (insert your reason here). How bitter does one have to be to hate a fellow woman because she is pro-life? Imagine how bitter they'll be when she wins.

Kieran at Crooked Timber takes a more pragmatic approach and plays it straight.

Josh Marshall underestimates what this means to the campaign and brushes Palin off. Didn't they make a mistake by doing that with Hillary?

I expected more from Taylor Marsh. I guess I was wrong. Instead she just sounds like a bitter, partisan hack.

MyDD compares her to Spiro Agnew. If this is the best they can do, she'll coast.

Democrats.com is as classy as you'd expect them to be, which is not at all.

It's Official: McCain Selects Palin!

Great choice, Senator:

U.S. Senator John McCain today announced that he has selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate and to serve as his vice president.

Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.

McCain may have just won this election.

Update: Palin is a forceful, confident speaker who doesn't just read off the tele-prompter. That sound you just heard was the Obama supporters collectively sighing and saying "Damn!" You also heard disaffected Hillary supporters rethinking this whole support Obama thing.

The Obama campaign has a problem, they've lost the news cycle for at least the next three or four days while the media publishes stories about heretofore unknown candidate. They've already had the audacity to attack Palin for her lack of experience and that will backfire dramatically if they continue that tack.

Excellent job, Senator McCain.

Update: Interesting, the question "Isn't it true Sarah Palin's environmental record is the only true green voice compared to the Obama ticket?" was deleted from Yahoo!

Update: Have we ever had running mates whose children when to fight in a war? Palin's son leaves for Iraq on September 11 of this year.

Update: Awesome response to the Obama slam on her small town roots and lack of experience:

It is pretty audacious for the Obama campaign to say that Governor Palin is not qualified to be Vice President. She has a record of accomplishment that Senator Obama simply cannot match. Governor Palin has spent her time in office shaking up government in Alaska and actually achieving results -- whether it’s taking on corruption, passing ethics reform or stopping wasteful spending and the ‘bridge to nowhere.’ Senator Obama has spent his time in office running for President.

Best blog comment yet:

To shatter the glass ceiling She will Use Biden's plugged head as a battering ram

Update: Grudging respect for the pick. It will turn into sheer terror once Palin becomes a bull dog on the trail.

Former Edwards employee (until he canned her) Amanda Marcotte is one bitter chick about this.

Update: An interesting take from one who lived in Alaska. He seems to like Palin even though he's a Democrat and sees her as a good choice. Nice debut, Charles.

Sarah Palin Thread #3

Threads are filling up quickly. Threads #1 and #2 below.

As Matt Lewis pointed out in the thread below, it had better be Palin as the troops are fired up and a liberal ain't gonna cut it.

Update: The MSM checks in and judging by this hit piece, they're mighty scared. Palin is the candidate that does the most for McCain and hurts the Obama campaign in so many ways. Get ready Sarah, the MSM will be brutal if they even sense you hurt their golden child.

Update: Fox confirms.

Update: As does NBC.

Update: It's official, Obama's speech is old news twelve hours after he delivered it. Monumental and groundbreaking my ass.

Update: This is one issue that may make Conservative cringe but it's tolerable IMO.

Update: CNN confirms.

Update: American Thinker makes the case for Palin. A good point:

Can't hit the girl: Joe Biden's debate style could be described as offensive under any circumstances, but he would be thrown off stride by having to go head to head with Palin. Even Hillary Clinton, in no way as "girlish" as Palin is, gained traction on this very issue with her debates in New York while running for Senate.

It does neutralize Biden to some extent.

Update: Jonah Goldberg weighs in.

Update: Afraid of Biden? Biden's a pushover compared to the Bering Sea or North Pacific.

Update: Larry Kudlow definitely approves.

Update: It doesn't seem as if the NY Times approves. Good.

Update: Uh, Rep. Clyburn, Quayle won.

Update: Yeah, they're nervous.

Update: The comments at FDL sound more misogynistic and woman-bashing as anything I've heard from the GOP backers. Typical.

Update: Ed Morrisey has thoughts.

Update: Fred Thompson on Palin.

Only a half-hour until this historic pick is made public.

Sarah Palin Thread #2

More in the earlier thread here:

Karl Rove on Palin:

Karl Rove tells Fox he doesn't know, but "it sure looks like it -- it sure smells like it." Calls Palin "a populist ... a reform-minded outsider" a bid for independent suburban women and "disillusioned Hillary Clinton voters."

Indeed. She's pro-life but not overtly so. She will grab Evangelicals as well and put their minds to rest about McCain.

McCain has efectively knocked Obama from the front pages of the Internet today with this speculation. Well played, sir.

Update: Another source confirms. And another.

Update: An endorsement of the choice by...Mark Levin?

Update: Hot Air is all over this.

Update: Townhall weighs in.

Update: Michael Medved on the pros of a Palin pick.

The Case for Sarah Palin (Updated)

As we await the noon-time announcement from John McCain as to who his running mate will be, I'll make my case for Gov. Sarah Palin.

Palin is a mother of five who has one son who enlisted in the US Army (infantry) at age eighteen on the 6th anniversary of 9/11. John McCain's son is active-duty military as well. While Biden does have one son deployed in Iraq as a reservist, he is in the JAG Corps and that doesn't exactly compare to the Infantry when it comes to danger. His other son is in the slimy family business of politics and lobbying.

Palin also gave birth to her fifth child knowing that the child would be born with Down Syndrome. Even the most virulent pro-choicer has to respect that and anyone with a disabled child would see the selflessness of her act. The pro-lifers would be appeased as well.

She's essentially clean when it comes to scandals aside from the typical dust-ups that any politician deals with and is an advocate of drilling wherever we can find oil. Granted, her state thrives on oil revenue but she's making a great case repeatedly.

Finally, she would be a ground-breaking choice. Yes, Geraldine Ferraro was a VP candidate once but there was no way that election was going to be won and it was done for political expediency to save a dying campaign. McCain is a few points back and is in the thick of it. Palin would nullify any advantage Obama hoped to get from the convention.

It doesn't seem to be Pawlenty so that leaves Ridge, Romney and Palin in my opinion.

I'm hoping it's Palin.

Update: Hmmm, "The most secretive flight we've ever had"

Here's an opposing view.

I tend to disagree with the thought that Palin is a bad choice because of lack of foreign policy experience. Obama's only experience is visiting Europe and Iraq a couple of times. Biden doesn't know a Brigade from a battallion. I'd rather have a young VP with little FP experience than a young President with no FP experience.

Also, Here's someone who is really digging deep.

Update: This is interesting, a Daily Kos poll has it that Palin would help McCain in the election against The One. Ignore the laziness of the poster who couldn't take time to research the Governor.

Update: FoxNews is jumping on the Palin for Veep bandwagon. It's a tsunami!

Update: Add MSNBC to the list of those saying it's Palin. Juxtapose the secrecy the McCain camp has been able to attain with the botched Obama VP announcement.

Update: Ughh! Heartbreak?

Update: CNBC says IT'S PALIN for sure.

McCain to Reveal VP Selection at Noon Today

The consensus is Gov. Pawlenty of Minn. but I'd watch for the curveball such as Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison or Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. The media would have to cover it as a monumental election with an African-American and a woman.

Palin is my hope as she is smart, has a great story and let's face it, she's good-looking.

The ads would make themselves up, Senator Obama had to select an establishment candidate who is as DC-insider as anyone to bolster his credentials while Sen. McCain is the true voice of change. And dude, she fishes.

I'll post it as soon as it's announced with my comments.

Update via Hot Air: Maybe? To be believed?

Update 2: Is Romney in Dayton or not? Not Romney, please.

A Chaotic Convention Closes

The One is set to speak at the ill-conceived Barackopolis and spell out his vision for a better American future that includes oceans ebbing (although they haven't risen), mandatory socialized medicine (although every single previous model has failed), higher taxes on everyone (except the panhandlers and slackers without jobs) and a new standing for America in the world. All that money we waste on stupid things like the military can go toward excellent new entitlement programs and prop up the National Endowment for the Arts who've seen a rough time these last three years and have only been able to afford dropping the Virgin Mary in urine instead of paying for the more expensive Jesus on the cross doll.

I can't wait.

Anyway, Senator McCain is paying for ad time to congratulate Senator Obama in what has to be one of the more shrewder moves and then it will be over. The slime can be hosed into the sewers of Denver (and Golden) and the scum-sucking anarchists can go to wherever they stay while unemployed (my guess is San Francisco or Seattle). Here's to hoping they are too damn stupid (a likely possibility) to read a map that would lead them to St. Paul or that they get busted with large quantities of sinsemilla somewhere between Colorado and Minnesota.

On to the RNCC!

The Obama--Ayers Controversy is not Going Away

Obama has to explain his association with terrorist Bill Ayers and he has to do it now. His protestations that he was "eight years old" at the time of Ayers violence rings hollow with me and I suspect many others as well (including liberals).

The Obama campaign instead has chosen the tack of intimidation to keep the story under wraps and it's now to the point that the God-given right of Freedom of Speech is under attack by the Democrat nominee. This from the AIP:

The Barack Obama campaign has now sent a second letter to the Department of Justice calling for the prosecution of one of American Issues Project’s donors for his role in funding a political advertisement in full compliance with all election laws.

“Having failed in its attempts to get our legal, factual and fully-supported ad off the air, Barack Obama’s campaign now wants to put our donors in prison for exercising their right to free speech,” said Ed Martin, American Issues Project’s president. “These over-the-top bullying tactics are reminiscent of the kind of censorship one would see in a Stalinist dictatorship, with the only difference being that those guys generally had to wait until they were in power to throw people who disagreed with them into jail.”

Please keep up on this important issue as it is an alarming vision of what we could expect in an Obama administration. Michelle Malkin is writing great pieces about this daily.

I for one will not let this crucial story go. A guy who is now the Democrat nominee was associated with a man who waged war against this country. He has never apologized for his actions and didn't go to jail for the crimes simply because charges were dropped on a technicality. Think if John McCain had been shown to have an association with Timothy McVeigh and you'll grasp the significance.

The Ayers/Terrorist Story Must Have Obama Scared

When Obama went after McCain on the "how many houses" deal, he left himself open to a full frontal assault on him on things that were not mainstream issues. The major one is Obama's association with unrepentant terrorist William Ayers. The McCain team produced this ad that was released a few days ago:



All factual and very inconvenient for The Messiah during his coronation week.

So, what does our hero Barry H.O. do? Well, he runs home and tells his Mommy that the boys in the neighborhood aren't playing nice and that the feds must get it off the air:

Barack Obama is striking back fiercely and swiftly to stamp out an ad that links him to a 1960s radical, eager to demonstrate a far more aggressive response to attacks than John Kerry did when faced with the 2004 "Swift Boat" campaign.

Obama not only aired a response ad to the spot linking him to William Ayers, but he sought to block stations the commercial by warning station managers and asking the Justice Department to intervene. The campaign also planned to compel advertisers to pressure stations that continue to air the anti-Obama commercial.

It's the type of going-for-the-jugular approach to politics many Democrats complain that Kerry lacked and that Republicans exploit.

Obama's target is an ad by the conservative American Issues Project, a nonprofit group that questions Obama's ties to Ayers, a founder of the Weather Underground organization that took credit for a series of bombings, including nonfatal explosions at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol four decades ago.

The AP being the AP waters it down somewhat. First, John Kerry didn't respond to the Swift Boat attacks because they were truthful and was on tape lying during the "Winter Soldier" hearings. As for Obama, he's just as at a loss as Kerry because he has indeed had a relationship with a man who planned terror events against our nation.

The AP says that Obama is "going for the jugular" to protect himself but they fail to say that in doing so, he's making it a much larger issue. Now the MSM has to report this story and once it gets into the American consciousness, there's not changing it--think the Obama is a Muslim rumor and how hard he's fought to quash that particular innuendo.

As for going after advertisers, well, that's just stomping all over the 1st Amendment and Americans won't stand for that. McCain should have an ad out within a day slamming the campaign for stifling debate. The Obama hacks are all over the boycott bullshit but it will have zero effect since the Internet is the prime source of news now anyway--it sure as hell isn't the NY Times anymore.

So this must really have The Messiah on edge to go this far to stop this from becoming public knowledge. He's sinking daily in the polls and the convention isn't being watched by anyone so he most-likely won't get the bounce he expected. The implosion continues and this may be the biggest bang thus far.

Hat tip to Glenn Reynolds who remains the best in the business.

Convention News Day 2

The brain trust of the Democrat Party is in Denver and the collective IQ of the entire state of Colorado has taken a nose dive. Here's today's high (and low) lights:

Senior Dems are sweating it now that McCain has drawn even in most polls.

Yesterday the nutroots went after the AP's Ron Fournier. Today, the MSM does the same to Mark Halperin. There will be no dissent and no disrespecting The One.

It appears Hillary's people didn't get the whole "unity" memo.

The new racial politics: black on black.

The convention will be pissed about this; Tom Delay may well beat the charges against him.

The McCain House Non-Issue

It's come to this, Obama got his ass handed to him last week at the Rick Warren event and he needed to go after McCain somehow. How to do it? I got it, hit him on the amount of houses he owns, that's the ticket.

It's a non-story that will make most of America yawn but the lefty blogosphere is all over it because they know their boy is plummeting. He owns numerous house, so what. I want my President to have been a successful person. I don't see too many middle class people running.

The media is running this story all over and I expect to see it on the front page of the daily rags but most Americans will ignore it.

The Media's Problem With McCain

First they loved him because he was against Bush. Then they loved him because he was a thorn in the President's side. Now, they have to love Obama so they are having a problem with him and it's tearing them up.

As proof I offer David Ignatius. He tells how McCain was dead on about Russian intentions at a speech in 2006:

And McCain did indeed deliver a zinger. He blasted Vladimir Putin for "the pursuit of autocracy at home and abroad" -- and then urged that Russia be excluded from the G-8 summit of industrialized nations. For good measure, he included a call for Georgia, already a thorn in Russia's side, to join NATO.

McCain's 2006 speech made news, as he knew it would. So did an address in Munich the night before from Georgia's emotional president, Mikheil Saakashvili. He recalled how he had cried the night the Berlin Wall fell -- and then pleaded for Western support for Georgia's efforts to recover the renegade province of South Ossetia and end what he called the "cancer of separatism."

And, of course, recent events show that McCain was indeed right before anyone even knew what South Ossetia even was. That, in most cases, would be cause to exult McCain for being damn near clairvoyant and it would have been had McCain been running against Bush and the media weren't so liberal.

But alas, this is the new, conservative, enemy McCain:

McCain likes zingers. We've all seen that mischievous look -- just before he shot a quip or sarcastic one-liner at GOP rivals such as former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. It's one of his appealing qualities, but in this case it worries me. Zingers don't make good foreign policy. They embolden friends and provoke adversaries -- and in the Georgia crisis, that has proved to be a deadly combination.

And he goes on about the media-created story that Georgia was being--I don't know--imperial?

He blames Bush of course but lumps McCain in when the Maverick was exactly right. He brings up the fact that McCain's advisor was a lobbyist for Georgia--a newly freed nation--and tries to discredit McCain's stance on an issue he clearly kicked Obama's ass on.

That, my friend, is the media spinning for Obama in a big way because they sense it. They know Obama was rocked at the Rick Warren event last week and when their calls of cheating failed, they needed a new tack and Ignatius has joined in.

The media fail to see that Obama is way out of his league and are now as behind the times on this as they were two-weeks ago on the Edwards affair story.

Watching Obama Ad-Lib is Painful

During the 2000 campaign, Gov. George W. Bush was constantly being challenged in stupid ways including the infamous Who is the new leader of Pakistan? question. Reporters criticized every single misspoken word and Slate magazine started an inane "Bushism's" column detailing every misstep.

Fast-forward to the present and tell me who makes you more uncomfortable speaking, Bush or Obama?

Take the Tele-Prompter away from The Messiah and he's lost. He can't answer questions he knows are coming and resorts to calling McCain a cheater because the Maverick was prepared, concise and on point.

Obama, we are constantly told, is a great speaker and communicator. Have any reporters actually listened to how he delivers thoughts that aren't actually on paper in front of him? It's a nightmare when the man has to think on his feet.

So I ask: would we rather have a man with no experience blunder his way through the next four years not being able to think on his feet or a former naval aviator who has flown in combat and was required to make snap decisions?

Here's the Messiah in action in Jordan: