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November 01, 2008
Is That A Spider On The Podium? Oh Wait - That's Carmen
Carmen mocks Winslow in what is probably his last campaign appearance. Why did he make her his running mate again? It would be cool if Stantis was taking a swipe at Governor Palin and how she's gone rogue, but that was only revealed a week ago so odds are this is just another accidental reference. The guy can't predict when October 31st is going to happen so he can plan a Halloween strip - he surely couldn't have predicted that Palin would start campaigning for her own run in 2012.
Speaking on a personal note, I'd like to take a moment to announce my support for Barack Obama. CJo and Sacki might have different feelings on the subject, but for me there's one big reason why I'll vote for Obama - and it might not be the one you think it is (which is that McCain is a psychopath and Palin makes HIM look sane).
No, I'm supporting Barack because of how he's run his campaign. Not only has he done a good job of running an honorable campaign (just because McCain doesn't like to hear the truth doesn't mean it's a smear and negative campaigning), but because of the way he did it. Obama followed Howard Dean's 50 state plan, going across the country and visiting states that in previous years Democrats would have never considered campaigning in. It's how he beat Hillary for the nomination, and I hope it's how he'll beat McCain on Tuesday (and not on Wednesday, as some conservatives in Virginia would like you to believe).
One of my biggest complaints during the Kerry campaign (other than Kerry being the one campaigning) was that he acted as if there was only one state in the Union: Ohio. It was all about the big swing state. Live in Montana? Don't hold your breath waiting for Kerry or Bush to stop by. 2004 showed us more than any election before that the electoral college was having the opposite effect that it was intended to have, which is to make the process inclusive for all of the states and not just about the small states with big cities.
Howard Dean and Obama saw beyond that and realized that if they tried to play by the Republicans' rules (don't worry about the popular vote - the Supreme Court will give us the presidency if it's close enough in the electoral college) then the Dems would never win the presidency again. I mean can you imagine John Kerry running ads in Arizona? But that's what Obama is doing this weekend - even though that's McCain's "home" state. And that's because Arizona is in play again, like most of the country thanks to Obama's campaign.
John McCain, on the other hand, is running their own version of the Kerry campaign. How many times have McCain/Palin been in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Virginia in the past month? And how many times have they visited California or Connecticut? McCain has only one goal: win the Bush states. In his mind if he can do that, he can win.
To me that's a window into how the candidate will govern. McCain could care less what I want here in Illinois - we didn't vote for him. When Palin talks about "real" Americans, she's talking about the Republicans that blindly support her and McCain - not like us fake Americans who would dare vote for Obama. Real America in their minds is pretty much the fictional Jesusland we heard about after the 2004 election. I mean just look at how big it is! Of course that's because most people live in and around big cities, which don't exist in Kansas and South Dakota.
That's why it cracks me up every time John McCain says he's "Country First." Really? If that's the case, then why are you acting as if Chicago and New York City and Los Angeles don't exist and aren't part of this "country?" I would have loved to have attended a McCain/Palin campaign rally here in Illinois, although 1) they never came here and 2) I wouldn't have wanted to sign a loyalty oath and they would probably think I look like trouble.
On the other hand Obama has visited Illinois. Along with almost all of the other states in this country (I think he missed Alaska but I'm not sure). That tells me he's not worried about just reaching out to the Democrats who can help him win - he's reaching out to all of us. And I'd much rather have someone like that as my president than a guy who is sending an army of lawyers to Pennsylvania to make sure this election ends up in front of the Supreme Court again instead of actually winning by getting the most votes.
But while I'm endorsing Barack Obama and Joe Biden for President and Vice President, I'm also going to offer up my scary post-Halloween prediction for Election Day:
Obama has a huge lead in the popular vote late Tuesday night, but due to "voting irregularities" in Pennsylvania McCain refuses to concede. Weeks will drag on, even though Obama has over a million more popular votes than McCain, who feels if he can flip one or two of the electoral states he can "win." George W. Bush will then step in and try to make sure McCain wins, by demanding a president be named before the end of the year. The courts get involved, and by December 23rd, 2008, they name John McCain our next president - as a form of checks and balances to the now solidly Democratic congress.
Then again, I hope and pray I'm wrong and Obama wins in a landslide. But I'm a realist.
Comments
This is beautiful.
Posted by: Annie at November 3, 2008 06:24 AM
Well thank you - but it's also kinda depressing.
Posted by: The Furnace at November 3, 2008 10:09 AM
