Compare and Contrast

Courtesy of Hugh Hewitt comes this delightful piece, which we couldn’t let go by unnoticed:

Sarah Palin vs. Barack Obama

	Sarah Palin	Barack Obama
Office being sought	Vice President	President of the United States and Leader of the Free World
Full name	Sarah Louise Heath Palin	Barack Hussein Obama II
Nickname	Sarah Barracuda	Barry Obama; “The One”
Public opinion	Smoking hot in a “naughty librarian” sort of way	May be The Messiah
Age	44	48
Children	5: two sons, three daughters	2: two daughters

And there’s lots more.  Read the whole thing at Audacity of Deception & Hypocrisy.

Stoutcat

The 10 Reasons Obama and Biden Should Not Sleep Well

Well, there you go… John McCain has opted for Veep choice Sarah Palin… Here are 10 reasons (in no particular order) that Obama/Biden should lose sleep…

• Palin is going to hold a healthy appeal to those famous 18 million Hillary stalwarts. That’s a no brainer.
• Palin is a life member of the NRA. And speaking as a life member of the NRA myself (1992) I can say the following with first-hand authority… The NRA has absolutely no problem supporting a woman. (The first female NRA president was Marion Hammer, and she took office in 1995.) In short, expect the NRA to pull out all the stops on this election.
• McCain is super-saturated with foreign-policy experience, military experience, and life experience. On the other hand, Barack was born August 4, 1961… Eight months after JFK gave his famous inaugural speech.
• Both McCain and Palin have sons (Jimmy, (USMC) and Track (Army) respectively) in the military. It’s going to be a nightmare for Barack and Joe to argue the invalidity of the Iraq War… To do so would be to question the character and intelligence of the young McCain and Palin. Add to that the success of the Surge (which Barack still won’t acknowledge) and all of Iraq becomes a third rail for the Dems.
• Palin appeals to unions. She conspicuously mentions them in her acceptance speech.
• All recognize that McCain is a maverick and a bulldog, but Palin is a sleeper of the same ilk. She is immensely popular in Alaska (in the ballpark of a mind-numbing 80%). Also Palin is known as a free thinker. (And that link is a “must read”).
• The economy ain’t as deep in the tank as was predicted.
• Obama runs on the exhausted “Not-Another-Third-Term-of-Bush/We-Need-Change” Campaign… Too bad that Barack (and Rezko, and Ayers, and Pfleger, and Wright, and who knows who else) are all just part of the old Chicago/liberal political machine. Oh, there’s change out there all right… But it takes the personages of a 70+ year-old curmudgeon, and a 44 year-old former beauty queen who’s faced much more than her fair share of challenges in this world.
• Palin knows her energy issues, (again, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin)… Methinks McCain may decide to drill in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge after all.
• Finally, Palin doesn’t bring the “Primary Baggage” with her that Biden did… (Remember the infamous “on the job training” comment? )

This should be interesting… But still Barack and Joe have very serious reasons to lose sleep…

Alan Speakman

“Sarah Barracuda”

I’ve got chills going down my spine as I hastily write this. Nope. I’m not talking about the ridiculous Lord Obama train of promises (with NOTHING specific, as usual). I’m referring to the speech just made by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, John McCain’s extraordinary choice for Vice President.

She didn’t need to talk about “promises,” which is all Obama can offer. She talked about accomplishments, which Obama can’t do. She didn’t have to hide her history the way Obama has to carefully do. There are no William Ayers in her closet to explain. She didn’t have to hide or downplay her relationships the way Obama has to do every other day. She didn’t disrespect Hillary Clinton the way Obama did. She paid homage to her.

I couldn’t stop shaking my head in sad amazement last night. Obama claiming “I am my brother’s keeper” while the reality is his brother lives in a hut in Africa, supposedly on a few dollars a month. Some keeper, Senator. Some keeper.

Today, I’m filled with hope. Because it’s become abundantly clear: I don’t believe America has to elect Obama to prove it isn’t racist. Nor do I believe America has to elect McCain to prove it doesn’t discriminate against age, but respects experience.  But I don’t believe America can afford to have a President who has to turn to his Vice President to explain the big words and what the ramifications of his choices are.

It also became clear to me another reason I cannot vote for Obama: it took Hollywood set designers and an outdoor stadium along with some high profile rock groups to make Obama appear Presidential. And he still came off like a windbag with nothing but empty promises (and not one specific) to offer. There was something else I couldn’t quite put a finger on for the past several weeks. And it hit me last night as I saw Obama strut across the stage, trying to catch a glimpse of himself in the monitors: he reminds me of a minority version of Frasier Crane… he’s good for comic relief–when his statements come back to bite him in the ass (3-4 times a week). But not as the head of the government.

Obama is right about one thing: America does need CHANGE. But electing a liberal freshman Senator with fewer than 200 days of actual experience (much of which was spent, according to him, traveling to 57 of the United States), and not one iota of accomplishemt to point to. That is not change we can live with.

However: a Senator with a list accomplishments Obama could only dream of and who has reached across the aisle on more than one occasion in the interest of the country? That man represents the kind of change we can live with. He’s a man who has distinguished himself in war and in peace. And his vice-presidential running mate is a woman whom feminists should rally around, because she’s doing it all: raising a family while serving her state and her country. A woman who has her priorities straight.

Yes, there is a God, folks, and it is not Barack Obama.

Gerry Ashley

Barack to the Future

Well, the Democrats have done it. They have anointed their Messiah chosen their candidate, and come hell or high water, he’s theirs and they are his. (Or most of them are his. Or some of them…) His apotheosis will be complete this evening as he speaks to the multitudes from his Greek temple in INVESCO Field (the Greek set design, naturally was handled by Bobby Allen et al, the same folks who handle Britney Spears’ sets.) I wonder if loaves and fishes will be provided. I also wonder what he’ll actually have to say. Will it be more soaring rhetoric, full of hope and change and healing the sick and lowering the seas? Or will he finally get down to brass tacks and tell the world what he’s really about? My money’s on the rhetoric. And why blame him, he does it so well.

As I read of all the excess, the hyperbole, the over-the-top grandiosity of Sen. Obama’s campaign, I can’t help but wonder if the Dems are beginning to wonder if they’ve backed the wrong horse… Yes, he certainly is a stirring orator. Yes, he is definitely a dynamic figure. He has an exotic background, a lovely and intelligent wife, two adorable little children (with maybe another on the way?), and a Senate seat which he forsook almost the moment he was elected to it. He also has associations with some definitely shady characters, from whom he is still desperately trying to distance himself.

There’s the America-hating pastor, Wright; the America-hating priest, Pfleger; the indicted fixer, Rezko; and the unrepentant terrorist and his wife, Ayers and Dohrn. Ayers is the Weather Underground member who, after bombing NY Police Headquarters, the Capitol, and the Pentagon with his group, announced “Guilty as hell, free as a bird—America’s a great country.”

Wright, Pfleger, and Rezko were thrown under the bus long ago. Ayers and Dohrn, however, are proving a bit harder to get rid of. It was at their home that Sen. Obama chose to launch his political career. Obama has dramatically downplayed the association by stating that “…he’s just a guy from the neighborhood.” Yet there are still many threads to be unravelled in finding out the scope of their relationship. Michelle Malkin, Ed Morrissy at Hot Air, Little Green Footballs, and the National Review’s Media Blog are all giving this plenty of coverage. Yet the mainstream media has barely covered it. Quelle surprise!

The Democrats have made their choice for the future of their party. But I still wonder, with all of this going on so quietly in the background, if there isn’t a bit of buyers’ remorse hanging in the rarefied air of the Mile-High City this week.

 Stoutcat

You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me

UPDATE: Ann Althouse beat me to the punch, darn it!

After comments about the price of arugula, the coronation in Berlin (“I am a citizen of the world”), the “Big O” salute, the Soviet-style posters, the Messianic iconography, the “O-Force One” campaign plane (complete with a throne containing his hoped-for title, and his personal logo painted over the American flag on the tail), the ill-considered Vero Possumus slogan, the changing of location of “the speech” from the  Pepsi Center to INVESCO Field, and the awesome variety of directional, theatrical, and verbal gaffes too numerous to mention, comes this: Sen. Obama will accept his party’s nomination in a huge sports arena on a stage set like a Greek temple. How very bread-and-circuses of him. 

Not even John (“I was born in the West Wing”) Kerry was this out of touch with ordinary Americans.

While it certainly doesn’t speak well for his campaign staff who a) thought it up, b) got it through the hierarchy to be approved, and c) presented it to Sen. Obama as an actual viable idea, it surely does speak volumes about the candidate himself that he’s actually going along with this self-aggrandizing spectacle. In fact, he may see nothing at all out of the ordinary about it. And given everything that has gone before, I guess it should come as no surprise that Obama will have himself crowned king of all Democrats in his Greek temple before 76,000 seats (will they really all be filled?). I guess his acolytes decided that the Pepsi Center with its paltry 20,000 seats just wasn’t grand enough.

Ah, well. It will surely be a spectacle on a truly vast scale. I’m just not sure whether I should pray for rain, or hope for a Spinal Tap moment.

Perhaps I’ll do both.

Stoutcat

It’s 12:22 AM, 8/27/08 and I’m Not Writing About the DNC Convention…

Yup, it’s It’s 12:22 AM, 8/27/08 and I’m not writing about the DNC convention. That’s how pathetic our political process (and our society) has become. Either you get it or you don’t. Either you reject Pelosi, Boxer, Reid, et al, or you embrace them. Either you acknowledge that General Petraeus’ “Surge” worked, or you pull “an Obama” and deny the screamingly obvious. Either you embrace the fact that we need to explore all forms of energy generation ASAP, or you actually buy into the liberal, “We need more environmental-impact studies…” line. Like I said… Either you get it or you don’t. Much more than enough said about the DNC – either recoil away from the WTC #7 moonbats or not because that’s what it’s coming down to.

Onward to something of some honest-to-God value. Did you know that the scales on a bird’s foot are called “scutella”?

Alan Speakman

Whicker’s World

I was watching the DNC Convention prep coverage a couple of days ago, and was struck by a stunning comment by an insipid, grinning Fox News reporter. As he walked the camera around the Colorado Convention Center he mentioned that Fox had its own media box from which all the Fox “stars” would report from.

And that’s what it has become… All of it… The politicians, the media, even that lowest common denominator of common folks, Casey Anthony; it’s all about getting the attention for ME. Monty Python nailed it so many years ago:

And so it goes… Jesse hates Barack, but smile baby, smile! After decades, McCain (and to a much lesser degree, Obama) suddenly discovers that offshore drilling for oil might not be such a bad idea. (Gee, I wonder if it could have anything to do with the elections? Nah…) And so heartfelt insincerity drips ad nauseum. Bill and Hillary are going to lend their “complete” support to Obama. (Would anyone care to buy a bridge?) McCain’s camp actually makes an anti-Obama commercial pointing out his “rock-star” status (at least they got that one right).

But this is what we have come to as a political system and as a society in general. Put the spotlight on ME. I want my bread and circuses. Where’s MY refund check from the government?

We don’t care that our jocks are juiced… On with the game! We don’t care that our celebs are drug-soaked, spoiled brats… On with the show! We don’t care that our politicians change directions like weather vanes… On with the elections!

Politics (and much of society) in America today is little more than professional wrestling – tawdry, contrived, even smutty theater.

Fox News just sent one of their reporters (Griff Jenkins) into a crowd of protesters outside the Denver Convention trying to find out exactly what they were protesting about… They couldn’t even answer that simple question – they were yelling for the sake of yelling. It was simply a pack of pathetic, gutless (many hid their faces), selfish, narcissistic, “never will get a life or a clue” losers; but so long as they pestered people with their noise, they seemed happy.

In 1961, JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Today we live in a Monty Python Whicker’s World where President Kennedy’s sentiments are completely irrelevant, and the only things people are asking for are money, power, and attention.

I swear that there are times if I could pack up the wife and I and live on the moon… I’d do it.

Alan Speakman

The Democratic Team Is Complete (as in “Completely Upside Down”)

What’s that I see? White smoke coming from the Obatican Chimney? Yes! It’s True! We have a new Vice-Pope for the Obama ticket! Praise Obama and pass the metaphors!

First, I stand corrected… sort of. In a recent rant, you will recall I stated that the Obama campaign had no choice but to tap Hillary for VP if his lordship wished to win the support of all her supporters, something that he will need in order to win this election. I therefore predicted Hillary would be the choice. I may have underestimated the level of animosity between the two. Mea culpa.

Not that Biden isn’t a viable choice. While it’s unclear how many actual votes Biden can bring to the ticket, it’s abundantly clear he brings with him the experience that Obama so painfully lacks. Consider just some of his credentials (source: Wikipedia):

• Committee on Foreign Relations (Chairman)
• Committee on the Judiciary (Chairman 1987-1995)
• Numerous subcommittees
  • Subcommittee on Antitrust Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
  • Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law
  • Subcommittee on Immigration Border Security and Citizenship
  • Subcommittee on Technology Terrorism and Homeland Security

• Caucus on International Narcotics Control (Co-Chairman)

In short, he brings the kind of experience to the ticket one would normally expect to see from the candidate for PRESIDENT. When you compare his credentials to Obama’s, it’s clear this ticket is upside down. And that’s just the no-win situation facing Obama: He had to choose a running mate with some credentials since he brings virtually none himself (a pitiful total of 143 days in the US Senate, before he became The Man Who Would Be Our Savior). Yet, by choosing someone with Biden’s background, it only places an even brighter spotlight on the absolute paucity of his own qualifications.

Should the Democratic ticket actually win the election, Obama will still want to be the mouthpiece… boldly going where no other person of such dubious experience has gone before, but you can bet the farm that he will be totally dependent on his Vice President to help explain the big words and even bigger consequences of his actions.

Come to think of it, if Obama can limit himself to giving prepared speeches, read word-for-word from a teleprompter, while muzzling Biden (known to stick his foot in his mouth, but an otherwise intelligent, experienced politician), the two could actually pull it off. Unfortunately, I just defined the Achilles heel of both. Obama’s ego and Biden’s recurring “hoof-in-mouth” disease is a recipe for disaster.

But at least Obama won’t have the dreaded Pants-Suit to worry about on a daily basis. Maybe the trade-off is worth it. Is it enough to grab the brass ring of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave? Will Hillary’s supporters now drink the Obama kool-aid? Will Hillary call her legions together to mount a challenge either at the convention or start planning her 2012 campaign? We’ll find out in a little over two months.

Gerry Ashley

The Emperor Is Losing His Clothing

Obama Exposes Himself

Fresh off the embarrassing show put on by Obama at last Saturday’s Saddleback Civil Forum, it’s abundantly clear to this registered Independent that being President is clearly “above Obama’s pay grade.” Evidently, Obama is under the impression that all that is necessary to win these debates (and, in fact, the Presidency) is simply “be there.” I find that a delicious irony, because the more I listen to him attempt to speak extemporaneously, the more he reminds me of Peter Seller’s character “Chance” in the movie Being There. “The Man Who Would Be Emperor” is quickly exposing himself as an emperor without clothing.

The end result is a campaign that finds itself with a trilogy of dilemmas facing Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic Party in toto.

• Obama’s Dilemma - Do I Really Have Any Choice As A Running Mate?

He’s ridden the buzz of expectation regarding a running mate for so long now, anything short of a stunning announcement is likely to be met with, “Yawn…Do you want fries with that?” At this point, it’s obvious to everyone (with the possible exception of Obama himself) he’s GOT to choose Hillary or risk losing her large support base and, in doing so, the election. Putting her on the ticket is a huge step towards walking away with the election. But it also means 4 or possibly even 8 years with Bill and Hillary second-guessing him, plus the knowledge that he needed a (gasp!) woman to help him win. Either way, the Clinton egos MUST be served, or else.

• Hillary’s Dilemma – Should she accept Obama’s VP offer?

If she does accept the VP nod and the ticket wins 2 terms, she’ll probably be considered too old (69) to run for Pres when he’s done. If she refuses, and he loses, she’s available to “save the party” 4 years from now. I think we all know that her ego wants the GOLD medal not the Silver. She’d rather let Obama and the Democrats FAIL this time out so she can look even better after-the-fact and going into the 2012 campaign.

If she refuses and Obama finds a way to win, she and Bill will be forced to the sidelines. But the chances of that are relatively small. She’s better off taking her chances refusing him, if she seriously wants to run again in 2012. Even if Obama is an incumbent, if he is doing poorly she can be to Obama what Bobby Kennedy was to Lyndon Johnson and grab the nomination away from an incumbent who is seen as too weak to be re-elected. Believe it or not, Hillary is still very much in the driver’s seat. And you know this has to be eating away at Obama.

• The Democratic Party’s Dilemma – What Do We Do NOW?
  

They are essentially STUCK with Obama who further exposes his lack of leadership skills and experience every time he opens his mouth. Do they pressure him to choose Hillary? You’re damn right they do! But that’s putting all their egos into one basket. And if that basket fails to sell, will that tarnish their golden girl’s chances four years from now?

Obama has thus far been able to tap dance his way around answering questions in any detail, failing time after time to give any specifics in his answers. However, once he accepts the nomination, that luxury will be gone. I predict the pressure from the few remaining members of the legitimate media will force the pendulum of journalism to start it’s downward swing. As it does, even “The Chosen One” will no longer be able to cover up his real relationship with people like terrorist William Ayers, convcted felon Tony Rezko, and the “Chicago political machine” where even the dead can vote more than once.

America is rapidly discovering that Obama’s pledge of being “The candidate of change” is nothing more than an empty cliche. Each time he opens his mouth the emperor seems to come up one garment short. In fact, if he continues to expose himself like this, he could be in danger of being arrested for public nudity before the election. And without the assistance of Hillary to pull him through, more and more Hillary supporters and “undecideds” will be looking to establish their own “6 degrees of separation.”

I never thought I’d ever paraphrase the Reverend Jeremiah “Not so” Wright, but here it is: Given his history of arrogance, hubris, and choice of “friends,” it would seem that, beyond the shadow of a doubt, “Obama’s chickens… are coming home to roost.”

Gerry Ashley

Musical Interlude, Part I

With apologies to Carly Simon, and thanks to Michelle Malkin commenter Riggword for the idea

You swept into the Party
Like you had just been anointed Pope
Your words were perfectly writ, your humor dry
The content was all soft soap
You had one eye on the ‘prompter
As you sold them Change and Hope
And all the Dems dreamed that you’d be their savior, you’d be their savior, but…

You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you,
You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you,
Don’t you? Don’t you?

Well you got them several years ago
By making a pretty speech
And they said you could be the President
The White House was in your reach.
So you threw your pals beneath the bus,
…They still cling like a leech,

Pfleger and Wright and don’t forget Grandma, don’t forget Grandma, and…

You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you,
You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you,
Don’t you? Don’t you?

Well I hear you went up to Colorado
And your name naturally won,
Then you raised your arms up above your head
And caused a total eclipse of the sun.
Well, you’ll heal the planet, cure the sick,
If that don’t work, you’ll drop..

Rezko and Ayers and don’t forget Grandma, don’t forget Grandma and

You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you,
You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you,
Don’t you? Don’t you?