The Obama speech on the economy was reasoned, hard-hitting, deeply felt, and of sufficient detail to give reassurance that good minds are trying to deal with serious problems and that well-thought out solutions will be put forward.
The McCain-Palin appearance in Ohio was marked by slogans, slurs and imprecisions and gave the impression that a McCain presidency would mean a lot of apoplectic shouting in Washington. Watching him, I sometimes have the impression that McCain will start foaming at the mouth. I was however nearly blinded by the bejeweled Cindy who introduced Palin (wooops, I should have said Governor Palin, since the McCain campaign insists that we Americans are to show deference to Republican candidates), and who fondly looked on, perhaps thinking of the $40 million that will be coming to her, as owner in absentia of the beer distributor she inherited, as the Governor and her husband spoke of the CEOs who do nothing to help American workers but who walk away with multimillion dollar severance packages.
My mind then thought of McCain economic adviser Carly Fiorina, who walked away with some $40 million in severance pay. Maybe he wasn't really thinking of her, or maybe he was extracting revenge for Carly's telling Allan Greenspan's wife, Andrea Mitchell, today that neither John McCain nor Governor Palin was qualified to run a major company. Of course, Carly didn't seem to be capable of it either, since she was fired from HP.
And I am wondering about the relative worth of Cindy McCain and Barbra Streisand, whom McCain derided in his rant as one of Obama's celebrity friends. Isn't Barbra an American citizen? Is it really appropriate for presidential candidates to insult American citizens, even if they are celebrities? Is it really appropriate for a vice-presidential candidate to look down her nose at all the American citizens who live in San Francisco? Don't the President and the Vice-President work for them too? Don't they get any deference?
All is not entirely darkness and depression. Actually I find myself laughing more and more when any Republican, be it principle, surrogate or analyst, says anything. So much of what I hear them say is preposterous, and they say it all so seriously. Or maybe I am going mad, pushed over the edge by the campaign. Unfortunately my obsession with TV political coverage is getting worse (witness the 3.30 am hour). I think I must do something to break it.
But Obama speech was exactly what was needed. And I am glad and grateful to be inspired. But I am afraid that no one is listening to reason in the din of slurs, slogans and jingoisms.
The administrator has disabled public write access.
Forums
