What to do Without an Election to Cover....and 007 at His Finest

Tonight's "breaking news" on Larry King Live is that President-elect Obama met with President Bush at the White House today. It's humorous to see the media struggle to find headlines during that limbo before the inauguration. Barring any crisis, all breaking news refers to such mundane activities as the type of limo Obama will ride around to the code names the soon-to-be First Family will have. The real insanity begins when Obama's cabinet begins to take shape. These stories prove how desperate the news networks become after the election. Their ratings take a hit as they no longer have exciting campaign coverage to focus on. The stories bring a new definition to boring. Contrived and silly news stories begin filling the time from positive (the Obama's getting a dog) to the plain silly (McCain losing was all Palin's fault, just as it would have been all her if he had won). We, the viewers begin rolling our eyes at the ridiculousness of this. We can see CNN and Fox struggling to fill an hour of news programming. 

What became even bigger news was rumors that Obama may issue executive orders on day one. Shocking. He'll be the President. They tend to issue executive orders, it's part of the job. It's not breaking news to find out a Democrat would issue orders changing those that a Republican predecessor had issued. Hardly a page turner. Yet the same pundits that kept many of us on the edges of our seats for the past months and even years now must make these events seem as crucial and as breaking as the major events of the primary and general election seasons. Some find it necessary to discuss 2012, despite the American people feeling slightly fatigued from 2008. It is one thing for candidates to begin secretly forming committees and raising funds for a 2012 run, that's their business, just leave the news out. This was perfectly evident at those harassing everyone's favorite Alaskan, Sarah Palin, on her potential plans for 2012. Considering she had just arrived back to the Governor's office in Anchorage, I hardly think she's given it any serious thought. Although, based on her actions the final days of the campaign, she may have considered it prior to the media....anyways. Time to stay on topic. 

Personally, I use this time to unwind. I read the news daily, yes, but I stay away from the pundit driven shows. They become redundant snooze-fests, littered with overly critical analyses on why exactly Barney the dog bit a Reuters reporter. Sorry, I'd much rather read a book, continue plowing through my James Bond marathon before the new Bond film hits this week (I'm currently on the rather crappy A View to a Kill). I'm not trying to discount the importance of good political journalism for that would discount the meaning of not only this course, but a great deal of the modern study of politics. We just at times need to find other escape routes. Those commentators that support Obama will do so in such an overly pleasant manner I may vomit and the Obama haters will continue to spew off the same displeasure that Bush-haters have expressed these past years. 

It's a strange cycle we find ourselves in and for much of the new media, this is brand new. The last time we had a "new" President-elect was 2000, before "Internet 2.0" (blogs, vlogs, millions of news sites, etc.) had found its way onto our computer screens, Fox News was just gaining ground, and CNN didn't have it's magic board or hologram technology and the media are eating this up. Larry King, who began this post has turned from top celebrity interviewer to political journalist, questioning with earnest and sincerity and it's just silly. Well maybe it's not as silly as seeing a 59 year old Roger Moore duke it out with Christopher Walken in a blimp over San Francisco..... sorry, losing my train of thought to a less-than-stellar 007 adventure. However, maybe the Bond comparison is a great one for the election and post-election news coverage. The election coverage at many times is as exciting as Sean Connery's outings as 007 or even as high-octane as Daniel Craig's take on Britain's favorite spy, and now it seems as corny as Roger Moore's films. Old, outdated, silly, campy, cringe-inducing.... the list of adjectives could go on forever, but Christopher Walken just took a plunge into the Frisco Bay and it's about time to begin 007's next chapter, featuring the always stoic Timothy Dalton..... The Living Daylights. Until we meet again. Stay warm and stay happy.  

While the aforementioned Bond films have been ragged on they do feature AWESOME 80s theme songs sung by Duran Duran and A-Ha respectively. These are perhaps the best parts of each of those films. Turn off CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, click off the Drudge Report and go see Quantum of Solace this week. If anything, it'll take your mind off this election, whether you were pleased with the outcome or not. Nothing is better than a Bond movie and you know it. 

You know this is more enticing.....

What To Do?

With election day bearing down on us (the polls open in 38 1/2 hrs), what are we going to do when this is all over? Will we continue our harsh criticisms of each other's candidates in class? It sure will be strange. Everyone seems to be suffering from campaign fatigue except for Bill Maher who on Friday declared this the best election season of his lifetime. That very well may be the case, but it's time for this to be over. Time Magazine published a wonderful article today about how much has changed over the course of this election season. Just by judging the before and after pictures of Barack Obama, you can see that this campaign season is running on fumes. Both candidates are physically and mentally exhausted. Endless events on a daily basis running from sunrise until way past sunset, with a few hours of sleep thrown in between.

 This is getting old. What else can Obama and McCain say to sway voters? They have thrown everything but the kitchen sink into this campaign, and the sink may get thrown in sometime before polls close Tuesday evening.  Now I love politics as much as the next political junkie, but there gets a point when you have to give your drug a rest. Peace and tranquility is what this junkie needs now. An endless supply of partisan bull is exactly the kind of medicine a madman would want at this point. For those of us that have been riding this train since the beginning, it's time to pull it into the station. Let's not throw anymore coal into the engine. This seems unlikely. There will be long lines, accusations of voter fraud, purging of voters, illegal activities on all sides. No one wants this to go past the wee hours on November 5th. If you do, please feel free to invest in Georgia's new private mental health facilities, you could use them. 

Personally, I'm looking forward to a relaxing month of December. Close out this semester of school, plow through my ever-growing reading list and sit back and enjoy. No more late night conference calls, fewer emails, and hopefully just wonderful stories about American democracy holding up another bizarre election process. Face it, you're tired too and just won't admit it. How many fruitless debates can you get into with a friend/colleague over this election? Unless you thrive on anger, I suggest you join me in calling for a peaceful return to class on Wednesday (and in this class's case, Thursday) and begin to discuss something other than the ridiculous crap thrown around in the past two years. I for one, enjoy my hair not either falling out or turning grey by the time I'm 25. Until then folks, enjoy tomorrow and Tuesday and may we all come back together as Americans when this concludes. Perhaps then we can all look at the monumental challenges ahead of us, put our hands together and get to work. That's what we do, it's democratic, it's American, and that's something that makes us all so proud. 

Until then...

2008: A Strange Odyssey....and it continues

With still over two months to go, 2008 has proven to be one of the strangest years in recent memory. All one has to do is see that the Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series and one scratches their head in amazement. What has gone on here?

The year started with a bang. Our New Year's hangover hadn't faded quite yet when Barack Obama stormed out of nowhere to win the Iowa Caucus and those all over took a second look at his campaign and wondered, can stop the Clinton Machine? We trudged through the winter and then spring as Obama and Hillary duked it out in a strange, bizarre, and almost insane primary contest. It was beginning to look like one of those college football games that heads into overtime. Neither team can close out the deal as both fire in touchdowns left and right. The game continues. No ties in this match-up, someone eventually had to win. I'd become Pavlov's dog watching CNN on the night of a primary contest, and just by hearing the CNN's jingle they played whenever results came in caused my focus to shift directly to my TV preparing for the results to be read by bearded wonder Wolf Blitzer. It dragged on. Finally on a warm night in late June, Barack Obama sealed the deal. The young, freshman Senator from Illinois who captivated the attention of so many just four years prior as a state senator speaking at the 2004 Democratic Convention would be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. Who would've thought? Barack Obama beat the Clintons... Strange indeed.

This odd behavior was not as noticeable with the Republicans, yet a strange campaign certainly took place. Rudy Giuliani, an early favorite to capture the nomination decided to take the dumbest road in modern campaign history, putting all of your resources in one state. On top of that, it was a state that couldn't even figure out how to vote properly. We saw a TV personality capture the attention of Conservatives for a while, but once people heard Fred Thompson fumbling his words, and not making much sense, he retreated and headed back to Law & Order, where he belongs. Mitt Romney scared the hell out of everyone with a smile that never seemed to fade, his campaign decided to do what he couldn't. Mike Huckabee, the likable former governor of Arkansas, who looked down and out kept going and really connected with Republicans all over the country and showed some how you can win without huge sums of money, or receiving the national spotlight. However, he too had to concede to a man that just months earlier looked like a man stranded in the water at the beginning of a Jaws sequel. That man was John McCain. 

Who would've thought McCain could pull back into this race and get to the finish line for the Republicans? He was royally crapped on by Bush's campaign in 2000 (odd that he employs the same operatives who did the crapping) yet eight years later he captivated the attention of Republicans and pissed off others. 

No one at the start of 2008 ever believed this election would come down to Barack Obama and John McCain. Yet it has. With less than two weeks left until this election is over and done with, there is still work that both candidates must do to secure victory. Strange happenings could still happen and most certainly will, in just a week, Barack Obama will run a 30 minute ad on the major networks, even delaying the start of game 6 of the World Series. If that isn't strange and unusual, I'm sure what else is. Until then.... stay weird. 

An Honest Question

"The American Promise" (Obama campaign ad)

"Ayers" (McCain campaign ad)

Tomorrow evening Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will debate for the third and final time this election season. For most, this will be the final time these candidates have an opportunity to discuss the issues. The posted videos are the latest ads to be posted on the YouTube pages of Obama and McCain. Neither ad actually expresses a key issue in this election. According to the CNN Issues page with data conducted by PollingReport.com, 58% of Americans top issue is the economy. The next largest issue: healthcare at a whopping 13%. Tomorrow night truly is the final time these men have an opportunity to discuss issues that truly matter to Americans. 

Let's start with Obama's ad, "The American Promise". It's a great online advertisement coming in at a long 2 minutes and 43 seconds it shows clips of Barack Obama speaking, crowds cheering, and talking about Americans rising up and "changing". It's a well made ad with catchy music, good editing, but doesn't discuss one single issue facing Americans this election season other than Obama's buzzword, "change." Upon watching this ad, it is very easy to figure out what exactly the Obama campaign is trying to do: motivate. With three weeks to the day left until election day, Obama wants as many supporters as he can muster out there creating "change" and beginning to fulfill his "American Promise" by knocking on doors, phone banking, emailing, whatever it takes to bring home "change" next month. It is not trying to convey a specific policy position Senator Obama has, or attempting to contrast his candidacy with that of John McCain's. Therefore, it succeeds and fails. It addresses but doesn't. It is in less than three minutes a fantastic look at the Obama campaign. A promising politician, fired up audiences responding to Obama's call for change, and may in fact create the motivation in supporters that have yet to join the campaign to do so now in the final stretch. 

With that being said, the ad fails. Now more than ever, Americans want answers about how these candidates are going to tackle the serious issues we are now facing. The economy, despite the massive increase in the stock market yesterday, is still incredibly fragile. Many more Americans are facing job losses and foreclosure, yet none of this was uttered in the Obama ad. It paints a pretty picture of what the United States can be under an Obama Presidency. At this point, a lot of people are willing to take hope and are simply assuming everything will be fine under with Obama as President. At this point, it's going to take more than hope to fix our problems and those campaigning for Obama now are going to have continue that support and work through the good and bad that could occur with Obama at the helm.

Now onto McCain. 

We are all now well aware of Bill Ayers. (For those that don't, there is a reason both Wikipedia and hyperlinking were created). I need not explain who he is, because the John McCain ad describes him for you and his relationship with Barack Obama. What I find interesting in McCain's message is there is a complete lack of any issue. While certainly Americans don't want a President who "pals around with terrorists" it may be a far cry to actually say that. It's OK to question one's judgement and you want to win this election, so it is understandable that you would do both. However, it doesn't seem to be working. As daily polls come out, Senator Obama continues to gain in the polls, even in states that seemed so red (North Dakota, West Virgina) just a few weeks ago, it would have been hard to imagine Obama gaining there, but he is. With or without the Bill Ayers ad, many Americans are coming to an agreement. 

"I may not agree with Obama on all the issues, but the Republicans haven't helped much, in fact, I may be worse off with them in charge," are the thoughts of many who have been interviewed and polled. 

McCain's campaign is definitely looking for answers and thought the judgement and associations of Senator Obama would dissuade voters and bring them to or back in the McCain category. Frankly, Americans are getting fed up. It has become same old politics in America. McCain the Maverick has proven to be anything but, even going back on his own promise to shy away from negative campaigning. Even if McCain did want to blast Obama away with the negative ads, let a 527 do it and continue appearing as the Maverick. If Bush had the Swiftboat Veterans, surely McCain could do even better. Instead, McCain is too focused on how to get people to hate Obama rather than explaining why he'd be a better choice for President. With crowds now seeming more angry and rowdy, and not at McCain's proposals, but simply the crowd's disapproval of Obama. It seems almost probable that these two candidates have been turned into two groups. Those who support Senator Obama and those who don't. 

McCain's true support is waning, that much is true. I had a wonderful conversation last week with a student at KSU who is a Republican and was a McCain supporter from the primaries up until three months ago and had previously supported the Senator's candidacy in 2000. His reason for jumping ship: McCain was not the same man and was lacking ideas for the country. That much could be true and from a campaign strategy side, if you knew of the same problems with voters that I heard from this gentleman, then you change your campaign. Make it about NOT supporting the other guy. When stumping, don't bring up anything YOU plan on doing, just how awful the plans of the other guy are. Supporters that were earlier falling asleep at a rally, wake up, and begin screaming and yelling in much of the same fashion that the characters of Orwell's 1984 did. 

With this new found knowledge in mind, the ads begin to make sense. Obama's ads are about supporters doing something (what that is, we still have no idea) and McCain's ads are now about fear, anger, the "Two Minutes Hate" if you will. With the lack of true issue based substance in these candidates, perhaps this is why tomorrow night will be similar to the previous two debates, boring, rambling, and telling me absolutely nothing of the direction either of these two men want to take the United States. That more than Bill Ayers scares me and that more than the "American Promise" makes me want to take action to ensure I still have a country by the time my hair falls out. 

Please Senators, one of you is going to be handed a big pile of garbage from King George II, who promises "plenty more to do in the last 100 days." Get with the program and inform the general public or at least the masses who are too lazy to read up on your policy positions via your websites. Whether you like it or not, in three weeks the American people are going to head to the polls and vote and then, "it's all over now, baby blue." 

Perhaps Bob Dylan had it right when he sang that song 43 years ago. He proclaims in the first verse, "You must leave now, take what you need you think will last. But whatever you wish to keep you must grab it fast." We may need to hit the road and disappear if this doesn't all work out in the end. America could truly be in danger if we don't think this one through before going to the polls in November (or earlier if you're the early voting type). Educate yourself and friends on the positions of these candidates and research them to the fullest. Don't rely on the candidates themselves to explain this to you, they're too busy "campaigning". 

Debating Take Two

The second of three Presidential debates will commence in just a few short hours. The networks are preparing, the pundits are getting ready for some punditry. It shall be glorious...or will it? In the past week we have seen the McCain and Obama campaigns get predictably nasty with each bringing up mundane, irrelevant information from the candidates' pasts. Really folks? With all this going on, neither one can say one word about the issues? 

Just scrolling through the pages of today's New York Times it doesn't take a rocket scientist or even a political scientist to find the issues. They're on the front freaking page. More so than many elections in recent memory, these candidates finally have real issues to discuss and yet they aren't. We saw a pathetic display last week at the Vice Presidential debate in which Joe Biden and Sarah Palin barely touched on the issues. Most pundits claimed that Palin did a good job simply because her expectations were really that low and Biden won because I guess he brought something of relevance up and didn't bite Palin's head off and eat it for dessert. 

When the primaries finally came to a close and we knew who our nominees were, part of me felt confident that Senator Obama and Senator McCain were gentlemen who knew the importance of this election and would attempt to stick to the issues. Although being a person who studies politics this seemed a bit too good to be true and oh was it. With an economy on the verge of collapse (at the time of this writing the Dow has gone from way up this morning to now down approximately 350+ points), two wars that need fixing, a crumbling infrastructure, smaller presence in the world, struggling education system, science that is paling in comparison to the rest of the developed world... The list can go on. Much has happened in this decade, easily the most turbulent since the 1960s, and yet the two men that we much decide on to carry us out of this decade can't find the time to actually discuss these issues. 

The first Presidential debate was boring with McCain too focused on his record from yesteryear, not acknowledging Obama's presence at the debate while Obama looked more like Mr. Spock in his personality and delivery than he has in previous debates and speeches. Is it too much for American citizens to ask these candidates to address the issues? Smear campaigns have worked very well in previous campaigns, as have meaningless debates but too much is at stake here. The next President is going to be handed a mountain of problems, perhaps the largest since World War II or even the Civil War and the mess isn't shrinking. President Bush has packed his bags and all but left the White House. Just by looking into his eyes, you can see the man has been done for a while. Even with a lame duck in the White House, McCain and Obama has resorted to the exact tactics they claimed they wouldn't stoop to, and I feel duped.

Yes, McCain has been struggling as of late on the issues, the economy right now just doesn't help the Republicans, so it makes McCain's tactics look a little more acceptable, but not by much. 

Well similarly to the election, time is running out... I have to go to work. Good luck to the candidates tonight at the debate and here's hoping to a fun and exciting time.

Go "Team"!

 

JOHN MCCAIN     vs.       BARACK OBAMA

The 2008 Major League Presidenting Championship

Red versus blue. Elephant versus Donkey. Republican versus Democrat. Dawgs versus Gators. Wait, scratch that last one. Or should we? What we think of as a legitimate race for the White House is nothing more than a glorified sporting event that is perpetuated by the same media outlets that broadcast our beloved true American sporting events. I expect to see four spectacles going on in the Autumns of election years: college & pro football, the World Series, and the Presidential Election. Not that the election doesn't matter, because it does, but how else can one explain why the two "teams" have team colors, mascots, and rabid fans. That sounds much like every sports team in the United States. We identify those oddly enough with colors and mascots. Hmm, noticing a pattern?

Using football as an example because the fan base for a specific team is about as insane as some Americans' passion for their candidate (the star quarterback) and their team (Congressional candidates, other offices, etc.) as we head down to the final weeks. As poll data comes out about how states feel about their stars, we color code those states with "red" or "blue" depending on if they're leaning toward McCain or Obama. When election day hits, the true insanity begins. As the returns come in, the news media will begin to shade in the states based on the state's "score" (who won the state) and battle for 270 electoral votes (the score necessary to win) will become the scoreboard. Watching this is more exciting than the Super Bowl and game 7 of the World Series combined. It's captivating. At this point, I'd much rather have John Madden, Al Michaels, and what the hell, we'll throw in Bob Costas in their to call this "game". Honestly, that is what this all has become.

 For all the decades this fine country has existed our Presidential election system has mainly focused on the "two major parties". Whether this is the Democrats and Republicans or some other bizarre form of political parties that has yet to morph into the spotlight, it comes down to #1 vs. #2. The ultimate battle. The media makes sure we all know that this exists by completely ignoring every other candidate from every other party that somehow manages to make it on the ballot. There are exceptions mind you (namely H. Ross Perot). These exceptions are given airtime because they sell. Perot's massive ears in 1992 clearly were more exciting that a redneck Governor playing saxophone on the Arsenio Hall show or President Bush (the first one) rambling on about reading his lips. Apparently, we're all deaf. So the media hopped on the Perot bandwagon. In the end, it didn't matter, it came down to Red vs. Blue, Elephant vs. Donkey. A further detailing of the sports comparison now begins.

The regular season of the Major League of Presidenting (sorry W. had to borrow it) begins approximately four years before the election. One of the two teams has one leaving the other to regroup. Candidates form their teams to compete is this season so long it makes Major League Baseball seem as short as little league. The hit the road, showing off their new team to all MLP fans as they cheer, wave signs, even those foam fingers, of course in the color of their favorite team. The regular season runs out quickly, usually January of the election year when the primaries begin. This begins the playoffs.

The playoffs eliminate most candidates quickly. They cannot represent their respective league in the championship rounds. The strong teams, in this year's case Obama, Clinton, and on the Red team, John McCain make it. People wear their team apparel with pride, chant, have signs in their yard, waving, screaming acting like Jackasses and Elephants. The first round of the playoffs concludes once you have narrowed down the process to a minimum of two candidates on either side. Obama and Clinton went a strong 7 game series, coming down to a walk-off homerun for Team 'O' that sealed his appearance in the championship. McCain looked down early, but made a major comeback towards the end of the first half and sealed his trip to the championship. The conference playoffs now end leaving us one candidate from either side.

DEMOCRATIC DONKEYS vs. REPUBLICAN ELEPHANTS

              

Barack Obama John McCain

The two team leaders now representing all of their teams and former opponents square off early. The first and second quarters see little action, with advertisements, stump speeches, and TV appearances talking up their team and why we should start rooting for them. At the conclusion of these interviews, TV stations then show a giant digital map of the United States and start coloring in the states. They predict how the game will end, but oh how is just getting started. After a slow first half, the candidates pull out a fast one before half time. RUNNING MATES. One became two, and the team either grows stronger, or begins to show its weakness. The refs blow their whistles, it's half time.

The half time show isn't nearly as exciting as seeing what goes at the Super Bowl, but it's a spectacle. The conventions are four day long half time shows celebrating everything to do with your team. Music and alcohol are included as are pseudo-inspiring speeches from our team leaders as we all shout out: "GO JACKASSES!" or "GO ELEPHANTS!" "WIN THE BIG GAME!" We then begin making out with the person standing next to us, things are just too damn awesome! After that final day however, things begin getting serious.

The two sides, knowing that the game is much closer than anticipated know they are beginning a tough second half and it's going to take some quick scoring in the third quarter. The speeches become more intense, the ads become dirtier (ex. "John McCain is going to use your tax money to gamble!" or "Barack Obama, yes, he's STILL a Muslim!") and we have the top referees get involved with something called debates. Yes folks, this is where we are in the game, so close, yet so far from the buzzer when states begin to decide which "team" they want for the next four years. Our precious media darlings grill both candidates on all sorts of issues. The candidates respond. After these debates, pundits from the media "score" the candidates. 

"Obama or McCain intercepts the ball from McCain or Obama late in the 3rd quarter to take a commanding lead." 

These headlines COULD happen after one of these debates. It's all about the game. November 4th is when the game will end and teams will know if it's time to start rebuilding for the next four years and the other will enjoy being crowned champion of the MLP and get to live in a big white house until the next battle begins. It's not that the election has become a joke, but when you break it all down, that's all it really is. The Super Bowl, World Series, Kentucky Derby, Stanley Cup, the Presidential Election. Hmm, I like it. What do you say folks, Barack Obama or John McCain on the cover of Sports Illustrated depending on the outcome? I mean c'mon the champions of all other sports just get a picture AT the White House. These champions live in it. 

Final note. Here's to the Tampa Bay Rays winning the American League East and hopefully a successful playoff run.