Episode 58: The Days Dwindle Down

We understand.

When speaking at Robert Morris University in western Pennsylvania a few days ago, John McCain made reference to an impolitic comment by Congressman John Murtha.
"I think you may have noticed, " he said, "that Senator Obama's supporters have been saying some pretty nasty things about western Pennsylvania lately."
The crowd booed.
"And you know," he continued, "I couldn't agree more."
The crowd fell silent.
It took him several halting rhetorical movements before he stumbled back on himself with a lame recovery,
"I could not disagree with those critics more."


We understand. Old people get confused. We lose our trains of thought, forget what we were saying, stumble over words. We shouldn't be President, either.



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The Kinder, Gentler Sex
Geezer has long believed that, given the opportunity, women in positions of power will behave just as badly as men. Challenged on that view, he cites Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, and Golda Mier, all of whom launched wars in their terms as heads of state.
What might we expect should some of our current politicians of the female persuasion reach the Oval Office?

The expensively outfitted Republican V.P. candidate has been giving hints about where she would lead us. She divested herself of these thoughts in North Carolina: "We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation."
Um, Sarah? Over 80% of the American people live in cities or their shadows, not small towns. Un-real Americans? All of them?

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota upped the McCarthyite ante. (Geezer suspects that neither of them know much about Tailgunner Joe, but they channel him.) Said she, last week: "I'm very concerned that he (Obama) may have anti-American views." Digging her political grave ever deeper, she went on: "I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out, are they pro-America or anti-America?"
Michele holds a once-safe Republican seat. Her opponent in this election gathered up a million dollars in new contributions over the weekend.

************************************************************************************* The Meaner, Nastier Sex
In the meantime, we can always count on bearers of the Y chromosome to pick up the battle flag and charge anew toward the enemy trenches.

* Joe McCain, brother of John, called northern Virginia "Communist country", neglecting to recall that bro and Cindy live up there, not far from John's national headquarters and the Pentagon.

* Randy Kuhl, congressman from upstate New York, slammed the desk on live TV while he trumpeted, "I firmly believe the Democratic majority wants the American public to suffer and hurt so that they can make some political gains at election time, and I think that's wrong."

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Video Watch
*The McCain campaign may have thought that nominating Palin would get them the Hillary vote. Probably not. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh9BmNuqeiQ
*Singing is an Irish enthusiasm, especially when fueled by the stout they inexplicably find tasty.
See one currently relevant result, courtesy of our friend Charlie, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADUQWKoVek

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On The Trail

Kellie K. sends lots of pix from Pennsylvania, where she's been working for Obama. One got my avid attention: Our daughter Sam says here's a poll she trusts:

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Urgent Virus Alert!

This seems to be the real thing, a truly nasty virus that burns the entire "C" drive of your computer. Apparently, the key words to look for are "Postcard" and "Greeting". For further information, go to http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp
*********************************************************************************** For Frugal Martini Lovers
These are harsh times, so here's a money-saving tip courtesy of Cook's Illustrated. The key to a clean, crisp vodka is filtration. Super-premium brands like Ketel One and Grey Goose are distilled several times, budget labels aren't. So, dump the water from your Brita water pitcher, pour in the cheapest house brand from the corner store. After it passes through, empty into another pitcher, then re-pour into the Brita. Repeat at least four more times.
A 1.75 liter bottle of my local no-name vodka costs $12. A single liter of Grey Goose costs between $45 and $55, so a little pouring back and forth saves me about $80. Spin that out over a year.
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Ditherers
Can there be any person more annoying than an American citizen who continues to declare, after a two-year presidential campaign, that he or she remains undecided? David Sedaris has some thoughts about these strange beings in the recent New Yorker:

"I look at these people and can't quite believe they exist. To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat.
'Can I interest you in the chicken?' she asks. 'Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?'

To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked."

********************************************************************************* Step Slowly Away From The TV
And the papers, the newsweeklies, the polls, the computer. Every possible issue, every dubious relationship, every accusation, every lie has been spun, dissected, diced, restated, diverted, and twisted.

We've sent more money to Obama than to any other candidate in our lives. Jo has been calling seniors for him. Our Obama lawn sign is in place, right where our conservative next-door neighbor can't help but see it every day.

Barring a Rovian October Surprise, it's all over but the voting.

So now, fight the news addiction. Paint a bedroom. Clean and lubricate the mower. Bring in the deck furniture. Rent the "Mad Men" DVD.
Better still, go outside. Talk a long walk. Delight in the colors of autumn. We have.

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