The Obama Show: 2016 State of the Union Edition

I didn’t watch it.  There, I said it.  It wasn’t worth my time. Honestly, when it came to this final state of the union from President Obama; I kept hearing the words of the late Maureen O’Hara from what is probably my favorite John Wayne film, McLintock!  She laughs in the face of the governor and says “Why you pompous windbag.”  Yep.  That’s pretty much how I feel about President Obama at this point.  To listen to the talking heads in the mainstream media, you'd think this was the second coming of JFK.  They even had a countdown to the speech on CNN.  Yeah, it was that lame.  So, without further delay, let’s just get this over with it.  What follows is parts of the transcript that I deemed necessary to include for commentary.  Honestly, you could probably do without any of it, but apparently I’m supposed to watch/read so you don’t have to.  So here goes.

The Obama Show: State of the Union 2014 Edition

My commentary, after the jump.  If I could add one thing, I'd just say that I loved how Rush Limbaugh was calling this the "State of the Coup" today.  Fantastic, and quite fitting.  

The Obama Show: State of the Union 2013 Edition

This was the first major speech that I missed our pathetic excuse for a leader give since his first election.  Quite frankly, he’s got nothing new to say, and after giving commentary in red, I realized just how vapid he thinks the American people are.  Okay, so he might be correct, thinking they’re stupid.  They did just reelect him, after all.  However, he’s got no mandate to govern, having received just over half the vote – and govern isn’t really his thing, when he can just campaign for another four years.  He’s drawn the battle lines, if you will, and he makes it obvious in this speech that he has no real ideas, but rather wants to paint his political opponents (particularly those in the House) as the detractors/legislative hijackers.  He hit the high points.  Immigration, gun laws, and the economy.  Nothing new there.  He did have a few “new” bits, but nothing of real substance. 

This was a typical speech.  Change a few of the words, and I’m sure you heard everything in one of his stump speeches last fall.  He used “I” 34 times, “my” 19 times, “fair” twice, “bipartisan” three times, “Democrats/Republicans” four times, and “both parties” six times.  I struck out his sob stories and self-congratulating ramblings.  This thing is a behemoth (19 pages in Word), and not for the faint of heart.  Reading it is easier than watching it, but it takes longer.  However, my television’s mortality is at stake if I watch him, so I’m sure my Vizio breathed a sigh of relief when it learned I wouldn’t be viewing the buffoon this time. 

Read at your own risk, after the jump…if you dare.

Presidential Debate, Round 2

For the past two days, we’ve been hearing about how we should expect a much different performance tonight from President Obama.  Like, he’ll be more aggressive and that town halls are his element.  All this means is that no matter what transpires – and I have every expectation that Obama will do much better tonight – the media will declare him the winner, much the same as they declared Joe Biden the winner of last week’s debate in spite of his overly-aggressive, somewhat mean-spirited performance.  So, expect fawning reviews of the president in the morning and unstopping hype saying that this is the turning point.  I expect Mitt Romney to do very well, as well.  People say that he’s uncaring, cold, or un-personable.  I disagree 100%, and I think people will realize that tonight.  Though, I’m pretty sure the deck is stacked against him, as is usually the case with Republicans. 

Would I be surprised if Obama crashed and burned tonight (again)?  A little, given how he should expect Romney to bring it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the expectations for him are not met.  He has no record to run on, and scare tactics only go so far.  Romney has some serious momentum.  I still think Obama’s got a good chance of winning again, but Romney has got a real shot here if he can keep it going.  Let’s face it, the swing states (particularly Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) are the real prize here.  Romney is within striking distance in all of them, but he’s got to win tonight and next week to completely shift the momentum in his favor.  Though, you can’t discount the machine that is behind Obama.  I’m trying to remain cautiously optimistic, but I’m also a realist. 

Candy Crowley of CNN is tonight’s moderator, and she’s already gone on record basically saying she won’t be sticking to the rules.  You know, like most Democrats.  Oh, was I supposed to assume that she’s unbiased?  Yeah right.  She works for CNN.  That’s just a half a step up from the pathetic Obama campaign surrogates at [P]MSNBC.  So, you understand how low my expectations are for her. 

Okay…now that we’ve got my pre-coverage commentary out of the way, it’s now 8:00, and time for the real deal.  Let’s get this over with.

Hello, Shepard Smith.  Once again.  Have I mentioned that I don’t really care for this type of debate?  It’s a domestic and foreign policy debate.  And so it begins…

CC:  “My goal is to…get questions answered…” 

And here they are. 

CC:  First question from a college student, how will he support himself after graduation?

R:  Pell grants, etc.  “I want you to be able to get a job.” 

O:  “Your future is bright.”  Really?  “the 5 million jobs we’ve created in the last 23 months…”  Um…okay?  He’s pointing his finger, Biden-esque.  Student loans.  “the jobs of the future”  Huh?  And now he’s on to energy.  Where did he get here from?  Reduce our deficit, fair share.   Come on!  The Debbie Wasserman-Shultz talking points are already free-floaing.

CC:  “What about the long-term unemployed?”

R:  “The president’s policies have been exercised over the last four years, and they haven’t worked.”  Nice.  He called out the real unemployment number: 10.7%  And now he’s calling out Obama on Detroit.  The president is actually looking him in the eye tonight.

O:  “What Governor Romney says just isn’t true.”  Aggressive, he’s trying to be.  Now he’s on to class warfare.  “go back to the same policies to just got us here”  Blame Bush.

Next question:  Gas prices, and Secretary Chu’s statements on not lowering gas prices.

O:  Touting his administration’s alleged energy record.  Mileage standards, green energy.  Blah, blah, blah. 

R:  “I want to make sure we use our oil, our coal, our nuclear…”  North American energy independence is brilliant.  Not going to lie.  The Keystone pipeline.  “How in the world the president said no to the pipeline, I’ll never know.”  Love it!

CC:  “…are we looking at the new normal?”

O:  “Very much of what Gov. Romney just said is not true.”  “…the last president is an oil man.”  He’s trying to label Romney as anti-coal.  Is there a plank in his eye?  “What I try to do, is be consistent.” 

Ooo…a back and forth.  Obama is trying to spout facts, and I think he’s getting testy when Romney is throwing facts at him and he can’t rebut them with his own.

R:  “The truth is what you’re paying at the pump.”  “If the president’s energy policies are working, you’d see them working.”  Again, the Keystone pipeline. 

O:  And he’s blaming gas prices on Bush.  Typical.  The DWS talking points.  “I’m all for pipelines.”  Wow.  I can’t believe this.  I mean, it’s typical for him to lie through his teeth, but he’s so obviously lying. 

Okay, Candy.  You’re obviously trying to save Obama’s [posterior].  It’s too obvious.  Ugh. 

Next question:  Reducing tax rates.  Eliminating deductions.

R:  This is good stuff.  Prices are up, incomes are down.  “I am not going to have people on the high end paying less than they are now.”  No taxes on interests, dividends, and capital gains.  Preach.  “The president’s spending, the president’s borrowing will [cause higher taxes]…I’ll get us on track to a balanced budget.”

O:  “My philosophy on taxes has been simple.”  Yep.  Class warfare.  “If we’re serious about reducing the deficit…the wealth [need to] do a little more.”  And now we blame Congress and tout the Clinton years.  Come on.  You have nothing to run on.  Now we’re on to fairness. 

R:  “For me, this is about jobs.”  Simple.  The Five Point Plan.  What could be more simple?  This is the distinction between the governor and the president.  The governor has a plan, the president has a speech. 

O:  Estate tax.  What’s wrong with eliminating that?  What’s wrong with funding the military?  This guy is a joker.  Why would anyone vote for him?  “The math doesn’t add up.”  “Either…this blows up the deficit…or you’re going to be paying for it.”  “Nobody that’s looked at it that’s serious [says it will work].” 

R:  “I was someone who ran businesses for 25 years and balanced budgets…the Olympics….as governor…”  “We have his own record…he said he’d cut the deficit in half.  He doubled it.”  “I know what it takes to balance budgets.  I’ve done it my entire life.” 

Next question

O:  “Looking forward to it.”  Yeah, because you can’t win in this arena.

Question:  Inequality in the workplace. 

This is a plant question.  This is about the only “success” of the Obama administration. 

O:  Typical response.  Lilly Leadbetter Act.  Talking points.  Again, this is CC saving his [posterior]. 

R:  He’s propping his successes nominating women to his cabinet.  “I know what it takes to get an economy that works…an economy with 7.8% unemployment isn’t one that works.”

O:  What a pompous [donkey].  And now we’re on to the faux war on women.  “This is not just a health issue, it’s an economic issue.”  Contraceptives are an economic issue?  Now he’s defending Planned Parenthood, claiming they’re all about mammograms and cancer screenings, as opposed to the chief promoters of infanticide that the facts point to. 

Next question:  The Bush administration’s failures.  Really?  “What’s the biggest difference between you and George W. Bush…?”  Are you [fracking] kidding me?  Another plant question.

R:  He totally just squashed Obama’s claims from the last question.  The five point plan.   Promoting small businesses and jobs. 

O:  This is just a chance for him to rail on Bush.  What he’s been doing for the last four years!  Come on.  “Governor, you’re the last person who’s going to get tough on China.”  Are you kidding me?  This aggressive strategy is failing, but I bet Chris Matthews has got a thrill down his leg.  Now we’re on to somewhat propping up Bush’s immigration policies. 

Next question:  What have you (Obama) done to make me vote for you, even though I’m not as optimistic as I was in 2008?  This is a joke.

O:  Shut up.  All you’re spewing is the DWS talking points.  “The commitments I’ve made, I’ve kept.  And those I haven’t kept…”  Such a contradiction.  Blah, blah, blah.  Go away. 

R:  “I think you know better.  I think you know the last four years haven’t been [that good].”  No commentary necessary.  Pointing out the failed promises of this president.  Oh, and the failed policies.  Touting Reagan.  Look, I love Reagan, but you can’t relive the past.  “Median incomes down $4300…23 million people out of work.  That’s what this question is about.”

Next question:  Immigrants without green cards.

R:  “We welcome legal immigrants into this country.”  “We should make sure that our legal system work…We need to stop illegal immigration.”  No amnesty.  Nice.  Pathway to permanent residency. 

O:  “We’re also a nation of laws…”  Oh, is that why you issued an executive order to gain votes, er, um, fix immigration?  So bored with his answer.  Heard it all before.  He’s a robot.  Now he’s ripping on Arizona – you know, one of the few states that’s actually trying to fix the broken immigration system.  And now he’s blaming Congress.  Again.  Broken record.  Literally.

R:  He just slapped back, before answering CC’s question on self deportation.  Oh, and the president wants to cut in. 

O:  “I haven’t looked at my pension.  It’s not as big as yours.”  Come on.  I’ll give him credit for getting back on topic, but he’s still ripping on Arizona.  Lame.  And there you go on ripping Congress.  Yet again. 

Next question:  Libya.  Who denied the security?  Another plant question.  He’ll defer blame to Hillary.

O:  “Nobody’s more concerned about their safety than I am.”  “Investigate exactly what happened.”  Is that why you blamed it on a YouTube video for a week instead of telling the truth?!  Come on!  Now he’s saying that Romney was just trying to score political points.  “You don’t turn national security into a political issue.”  Hypocrite.  And there it is: Osama bin Laden.  Shut the [front door].  I’m surprised that he didn’t blame Hillary.

R:  “It was a terrorist attack.”  “Whether there was some misleading…”  Now he’s calling Obama out for fundraising while the feces was hitting the fan. “This calls into question the president’s policy in the Middle East.”  Obama looks like a cat perched on his stool. 

CC:  Hillary took blame. 

O:  “She works for me.”  “I said this was an act of terror.”  No you didn’t.  You blamed a YouTube video.  Oh, now he’s offended that the governor inferred that they played politics. 

R:  Totally calling the Obama out.  Okay, not his best answer, but he’s right.

Next question:  Gun control.  Again with the [fracking] plant question.

O:  Oh, and there’s Aurora.  This is a joke.  What does this have to do with banning assault weapons?  “We’ve got more to do.”  “Weapons that were designed for soldiers…don’t belong on our streets.” 

R:  “I’m not in favor of new pieces of legislation…taking guns away.”  “…enforce the gun laws that we have and change the culture of violence.”  He’s propping up a two-parent family to help curb the culture of violence.  Yes!  Bring up Fast and Furious.  “It’s one of the great tragedies…under this administration…executive privilege…” 

O:  Ugh.  Now he’s knocking the NRA.  Bad move.  “Governor Romney was for an assault weapon ban before he was against it.”  Yawn.  Heard it all before.  Oh, so you want to make sure the time keepers are doing their job, unless you’re talking.  He’s talking over CC.  Ugh.  What a douche.

Next question: Outsourcing.  Yet another plant question.

R:  China.  “We have made it less attractive for enterprises to stay here.”  “It’s not by trickle down government…[it’s] never worked here.”  Chinese manipulation of currency.  “What’s key to bringing back jobs here…make America the most attractive place for jobs…”  “We have to be competitive, if we’re going to create more jobs here.”  Regulations.  Comparing Canadian business tax at 15% to ours at 35%.  Knocking ObamaCare as a job-killer. 

O:  “We need to create jobs here.”  Now he’s saying Romney wants to expand tax incentives for companies who ship jobs overseas.  Again, scare people into voting for you. 

CC:  Bringing manufacturing home.

R:  Play by the rules.  Make America attractive.

O:  “There are some jobs that aren’t going to come back. … I want high skill, high wage jobs.”  How about jobs, period?!  Come on. 

R:  “Government does not create jobs.  Government does not create jobs.”

Next question:  Biggest misconception about you as a man.

R:  “I care about 100% of the American people.”  Way to get ahead of the inevitable 47% comment.  “We don’t have to settle for what we’re going through…gas at $4/gal…47 million people on food stamps…” 

O:  “I believe the free enterprise system is…the greatest the world has ever known.”  Did it give you physical pain to say that?  Fairness.  Blah, blah, blah.  And there’s the 47% comment.  Predictable.  “I want to fight for them.”  I’m sure you do, because they’re about the only people who are willing to vote for you now. 

Ended about the way I expected to.  At worst this was a draw.  Romney won though.  I know I’m biased, but this debate was a joke.  It was almost as if the questions were handpicked for Obama.  Unsurprising.  CC is like Rachel Maddow-lite.  However, I don’t think this will shift momentum.  The Democrat machine will do everything in its power to spin this as a decisive Obama victory.  It was not.  At least he showed up to this debate.  He got a couple decent digs/answers in, but he’s a broken record.  In fact, he’s not even that.  He has no record to run on.  Romney didn’t just go on the offense all night.  He held his own against Obama’s best shots.  For such a hostile environment, Romney did quite well.  I could elaborate further, but I need to cool off.

Obama 17, Romney 30

Let’s get the next one out of the way, so I don’t have to watch another Obama robot show.  I really hope said robot is shutting down in exactly three weeks…

Vice Presidential Debate

Yes, I’m that guy.  I just left my Bible study early, so I could write.  It’s okay.  We got through Hosea 8 and 9.  It’s kind of amazing how that book is kind of an allegory for the state of America today.  But that’s another topic.

“X Factor” is now over.  It’s really too bad someone like Simon Cowell couldn’t moderate this thing.

Hello, Shepard Smith.  Again.  From Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, this time.  I really don’t like the format of this debate, as far as having both candidates seated.  It’s a domestic and foreign policy debate, and I have every expectation that Biden will bring his A-game.  However, his A-game is nothing compared to Paul Ryan.

Anyone else think the hubbub over Martha Raddatz was a little bit of a stretch.  Is it that surprising that Obama attended her wedding a few years ago?  She’s a “journalist”.  They’re his bread and butter. 

And here they are.  Interesting.  She has two mics.

MR: First question: Libya.  Was it a massive intelligence failure?

B:  Ooo.  Point that finger, Joe.  That means you’re serious.  And he shifted right into ending the war in Iraq and Osama bin Laden (henceforth to be known as OBL).  There he goes pointing that finger again.  “[The president has] led with a steady hand and a clear vision.”  Wow.  Really?

R:  “If we’re hit by terrorists, we’re going to call it like it is: a terrorist attack.”  Ooo…nice.  He totally called out Biden on failing in negotiations with the Iraqis – a task given to him by the president.  Biden is actually looking at Ryan while he’s talking.  Clearly that was a note taken after last week’s abysmal performance by the empty chair. 

B: “That’s a bunch of malarkey.”  Way to keep it PG, Joe.  “repaired our alliances”  Really?  Ooo…a little stutter.  “These guys bet against America all the time.”  Ryan’s expression was perfect.  He’s talking in circles.  Blaming the intelligence community.  Holding a press conference is “not presidential”.  Really?  Coming from the number two to the Teleprompter in Chief?

R:  “We should never apologize about standing up for our values.” 

MR: Iran.  “How effective would a military strike be [on Iran]?”

R:  He’s explaining that bi-partisan support in Congress is the only way sanctions against Iran were made possible, in spite of the administration.

B:  Wow…he just tried to pull the “it’s classified” card.  “There is no weapon that the Iranians have…what are you talking about?” 

R:  He basically said that we need to convince the Ayatollahs to change their mind and that our relationship is suffering.

B:  He’s saying sanctions work, and our relationship with Israel is great.   “Facts matter.”  But they’re such inconvenient things for you and your party, Mr. Vice President.

R:  He basically says that Iran is encouraged by this administrations inaction.

B:  “[Romney] changes his mind so often, I could be wrong….This president doesn’t bluff.”  Really?

MR: Economy.  Can you get unemployment under 6%?

B:  “Let’s look at the facts.”  Again.  Inconvenient things for you and your party.  Ryan is chomping at the bit.  He’s gabbing on about GM and foreclosures.  Oh, and there’s the 47% reference.  What does this have to do with unemployment? 

R:  He’s turning the facts around on Biden.  No commentary necessary.  “This is not what a recovery looks like.”  Okay…someone just text me a few minute ago to tell me that Biden’s laugh and smile is creepy.  I’m starting to agree.  “I think the Vice President knows that the words don’t always come out of your mouth right [in reference to the 47% comment].” 

B:  Now he’s pulling the sympathy card to try to counter Ryan’s story about Romney.  “[Romney] said let [the auto industry] go bankrupt.”  IT DID GO BANKRUPT!  “Just get out of the way.  Stop talking about how you care about people.”  Oh, and there’s the DWS talking points.  “Two wars on a credit card.”

R:  Oh, yes.  “One party control” and look where we are.  Specifics now, on growing the economy. 

B:  “I love my friend here.”  I don’t think they’re friends.  “Less than 0.4% waste [in the stimulus].” 

R:  “Where are the 4 million green jobs that were promised?”

MR:  Medicare. 

R:  “If you reform these programs for my generation…you can guarantee that they’ll be solvent for the generation close to retirement.”  He’s getting ahead of Biden’s talking points about vouchers.  “Choice and competition.”  Preach.

B:  “I heard that death panel argument from Sarah Palin.”  Really?  Oh, there’s the AMA and AARP shout out.  Oh, yes, Joe.  Talk directly to the camera, because that allegedly polled well.  “Folks follow your instincts on this one.”  Okay.  I’m voting for the other guy.  “Their ideas are bad.”

R:  “Mr. Vice President, I know you’re under a lot of duress trying to make up for lost ground, [but stop interrupting me].”  Classic.  Biden is getting catty. 

B:  Ripping vouchers and privatization of social security.

R:  He’s trying to talk and Biden keeps interrupting.

B:  “The bottom line is…”  Really?  You don’t know what a bottom line is.  “Folks, use your common sense.”  Again, I will.  Thereby, I’ll be voting for the other guy.

MR:  “Who will pay more in taxes, and who will pay less?”

B:  Bush tax cuts.  Wealthy pay more.  “They’re holding hostage the middle class tax cut.” 

R:  I love when this man talks numbers.  “Watch out middle class, the tax bill is coming to you.” 

B:  “Let me translate.”  “Not mathematically possible.”  “Oh, now you’re Jack Kennedy.”

Arguing back and forth. 

R:  “[Reagan] didn’t demonize [Democrats], he didn’t demagogue them.”  Perfect allegory.

B:  “97% of small businesses…”  Over and over.

MR:  Defense spending.

R:  “If these cuts go through, our Navy will be the smallest since World War I.” 

B:  Nuh-uh.  He’s like a belligerent child. 

MR:  Afghanistan.  “Why not leave now? … Is it worth more American lives?”

R:  “What we don’t want to do is lose the goals we’ve gotten.” 

B:  “Martha, let’s keep our eye on the ball.”  Oh, boy.  There’s the OBL reference.  “We are leaving.  We are leaving in 2014.  Period.” 

MR:  “What conditions could justify staying[?]”

R:  Paraphrase: We want to come home in 2014, but only as long as we’re successful.  “the unraveling of the Obama foreign policy”  Preach.  “We don’t want to broadcast to our enemies, put a date on your calendar.”  Word. 

MR: Is the Taliban taking advantage of the timeline?

B:  “Step up.”  I don’t disagree, but he doesn’t sound genuine.  Again, with the finger pointing. 

R:  He’s throwing out a bunch town/region names.  He’s clearly educated on Afghanistan.

MR:  Syria.

B:  “If it blows up and the wrong people gain power…”  Didn’t that happen already?  There he goes with the “friend” reference.  “my friend, Governor Romney”  So confused.  He’s blaming Romney, while saying that Romney would do the same thing as Obama.

R:  “Nobody is proposing to send troops to Syria.”  Ooo…Russia reset.  Pointing out the foreign policy fails of this administration.  Propping up alliances, ripping the UN’s response. 

B:  “He never answers the question.”  Ryan says we wouldn't go through the UN.  Biden says they didn't. 

MR:  “What happens if Assad does not fall?”

R:  “Iran keeps their closest ally in the region.”  “We should not have called Bashar Assad a ‘reformer’.” “[Intervention] has to be in the national security interests of the American people.”

MR:  What role has your religion played in your views on abortion?

R:  “I don’t see how a person can separate their public life and their private life.”  “I believe that life begins at conception.”  “Look at what they’re doing through ObamaCare.”  “Our church should not have to sue the federal government.” 

B:  “My religion defines who I am.”  An idiot?  “I accept the churches view…I refuse to impose it…”  Wow.  So tacky.  Oh, there’s the Georgetown shout out.  I’m surprised he didn’t mention Sandra Fluke by name. 

R:  “It’s a distinction without a difference.”  “We don’t think that unelected judges should make this decision.” 

B:  He’s saying Roe v. Wade is in jeopardy of being overturned.  “We picked [open minded] judges…didn’t come with an agenda.”  Wow.  Really?

MR:  Are you embarrassed by the tone of the campaign?

B:  Oh, come on!  Back to saying that soldiers are part of the 47%.  Really?  And now he’s ripping on super PACs.  Hypocrite. 

R:  Ripping Obama on running on hope and change but running this time on attack and distract.  Ripping him on other broken promises – cutting deficit, especially.  “The president likes to say he has a plan.  He gave a speech.  …  We can’t estimate speeches.”  His bladder must be made of steel.  I’m pretty sure he’s drank three glasses of water.

B:  And here are the scare tactics again.  Exactly what Ryan has been ripping him all night on:  If you can’t run on ideas, make your opponent scary. 

MR:  If you were elected, what could you give to this country that no one else could?

R:  “There are plenty of great people who could lead this country.”  Word. 

B:  Wow.  Another time excuse.  Level the playing field.  Way to get that DWS point in there. 

Closing statements:

B:  “we inherited a god-awful circumstance”  Blame Bush.  47% comment.  Level the playing field. 

R:  Yes.  Talk right to the camera.  I love this guy.  “President Obama had his chance. … It’s not working. … This is not what a real recovery looks like.”  Amen.  “Wouldn't it be nice to have a job creator in the White House?”  Preach.  “We will not blame others for the next four years.” 

Okay.  It didn’t pan out exactly like I predicted or hoped, but Ryan still won.  Biden was clearly  on the defensive all night, doing exactly what Ryan kept accusing the Obama-Biden campaign of: trying to scare people out of voting for Romney-Ryan because the Obama-Biden ticket has no record to run on and no ideas.  Ryan did very well, considering this was his first national debate, but he was trying way too hard to cram as much information into two to four minutes as possible.  Substantive, yes, but not always 100% time-effective.  Biden, however, was, as a friend put it, “just rude and disrespectful.”  So true.  That, and his impertinent smile/chuckle was just as awful as it was annoying.  To be fair – or as fair as I can be to that blithering excuse for a vice president – he did much better than his boss did last week.  Kind of echoed the DNC, actually.  His speech was better than his boss’s.  That said, his condescending tone throughout tonight’s debate was annoying, as was his persistent finger pointing and fear mongering. 

Really, that’s about all my thoughts on the issue.  At least the two looked at each other from time to time for more than two to four seconds.  This was more like two people were debating, instead of a former governor debating an empty chair.

Still calling this one with football scores:  Biden 13, Ryan 27

Presidential Debate, Round 1

I’m not really looking forward to this.  Don’t get me wrong, I think that Romney’s got this one in the bag.  Obama is a robot, and he’s got nothing to run on, and Romney is a good speaker and debater.  The media will declare Obama the winner and say that he overcame obstacles and a tough debater like Romney, but that Romney is out of touch and too wooden or something.  It’s so predictable.  And I’m watching this on my local Fox station, for the record.  It’s 8:00, let’s get this over with.  Oh, and the format is a work in progress…

Hello, Shepard Smith.   Obligatory intro.  Obama won the coin toss.  This one is going to be on domestic policy – where Obama is clearly weak.  Jim Laher is moderating, and now giving the other obligatory intro.  He’s kind of a dinosaur, and most likely part of the liberal color guard.

And now here are the candidates. 

The Economy: Segment 1, Jobs

What are the major differences between the two, and how would they go about creating jobs?

O: Obligatory well wishes to Michelle, since it’s their 20^th anniversary.  And right into the Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (henceforth to be known as “DWS”) talking points.  Light attack on Romney, and back to the talking points.  He’s talking a lot faster than usual.  No teleprompter. 

R: Obligatory congratulations to the president on his anniversary, and light joke.  A little shout out to Ohio.  Energy independence, trade, education, balanced budget, small business.  “Trickle down government.”  Nice. 

JL: Respond to “trickle down government”.

O: Specifics.  Education.  Hiring teachers.  Oh, yes, more union dues to the DNC.  Energy independence, but invest in wind and solar.  Yes, more Solyndras.  Tax cuts. 

R: “Middle income families are being crushed.”  I really can’t commentate on this.  This guy is nailing it.  “I’ll get that pipeline in from Canada.”  “No tax cut that adds to the deficit.  Underline that.”  I don’t think he stuttered or said “uh” once.

O: He’s been talking taxes for about 18 seconds, and he’s said “uh” three times.  Oratory extraordinaire.  Seriously, I have trouble not counting the “uhs”.  I’m not speaking professional, but for the love of goat, where do these people get off on the idea that he’s God’s gift to the speaking world?  And why does he keep driving this idea that it’s bad to give the military $2 trillion? 

R: “Virtually everything he just said about my tax plan is inaccurate.”  “I will not reduce the taxes paid by high income Americans.”  He’s addressing the president directly.  The president really has yet to look at the governor while speaking to/about him.  “For me, this is about jobs.” 

O: “It’s math, it’s arithmetic.”  Really?!  You clearly failed that.  Ugh.  DWS talking points.  He’s a robot.  “We should go back to the rates we had when Bill Clinton was president…”  Wow.  Can’t run on your record, so you dig up the past.  “Donald Trump is a small business.”  Really?  Where is this guy coming up with this [malarkey]?  Now he’s moved on to education.

R: Now he’s throwing facts at him.  You can’t handle the truth!

O:  I can’t listen to this guy any more.  Now he’s back to Clinton.  This is your election, not his!  Disaster, at best.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is clearly delusional. 

R:  Okay, I like that he’s kind of taking the gloves off, but he’s a little annoying with the butting in.  Granted, he’s right.  I’ll allow it, because he’s still throwing out facts.

JL:  Question 2: “What are the differences…how would you go about tackling the debt in this country?”

R:  “I want to lower spending…I’ll eliminate all programs that borrow money from China to pay for.”  “The president said he’d cut the deficit in half…unfortunately, he doubled it.” 

O:  Now the DWS talking points on debt – “two wars on a credit card”, “emergency measures to avoid a Great Depression”.  Blah, blah, blah.  He’s trying to establish a record, but it’s sounding more like excuses.  Bowles-Simpson Commission – whose advice you still haven’t taken.  “…to move forward.”  Way to throw in that catch phrase.

R:  “You’ve been president for four years.”  “I don’t want to raise taxes on people.”  “You raise taxes, you kill jobs.” 

JL: “In order to reduce the deficit, you have to have revenue.”

O:  “The oil industry gets $4 billion a year in corporate welfare.”  Yes, make big oil the villain.   How did he go from tax cuts to education?  Now Medicade?  Stay on topic!  Is your chip malfunctioning?!

R:  Oh, snap.  He just called him on the array of topics.  Totally called him out on the oil industry subsidies versus the subsidies the president poured into green energy.  “I’ve been in business for 25 years.  I have no idea what you’re talking about [as far as getting a tax break for opening a factory overseas].”  “Medicade. I don’t know how you got to that.”  “Let states do this.” 

JL: Segment 3: Entitlements “Do you see a major difference between the two of you on Social Security?”

O: And he wants to shift focus to Medicare.  “My grandmother died three days before I was elected president.”  What does this have anything to do with the topic?!  The question was on social security, not Medicare.  Infuriating. 

R: Oh, yeah.  Totally call the president out on Medicare.  Am I the only one that thinks that the president is afraid to look at the governor while he’s speaking? 

O: Turning Medicare into a voucher program.  I fail to see the problem here.  Oh, yes vilify the insurance companies.  “health care economists” “my grandmother” “AARP”  I’m so confused.  Now he’s propping up ObamaCare, saying the insurance companies will benefit and seniors will suffer. 

R:  $716 billion from Medicare.  I’m so glad he keeps hitting him on this.  “We’ve got to make sure the program is there for the long term.”  “I believe in competition.”

O: Now he’s back to propping up AARP. 

R: “Could we stay on Medicare?”

JL:  Regulations.

R:  “Regulation is essential.”  “Regulation can be excessive…out of date.”  Dodd-Frank.  I think the president is getting testy. 

O:  Blames “reckless behaviors”, then says he fixed Wall Street.  Now he’s rambling on and on…

R: “I wouldn’t designate five banks as too big to fail.” 

JL: New segment, health care.  “Governor Romney, you want ObamaCare repealed.  Why?”

R:  Another shout out to a swing state.  Not a big fan of him doing this, but I know why he’s doing it.  I can’t commentate.  Facts.  “It has killed jobs.”  “Craft a plan at the state level.” 

O: Talking points we’ve been hearing for the last four years.  I’m so bored with you.  “I had five seconds before you interrupted me.” 

JL: “Your five seconds went away a long time ago.”

R: “We didn’t raise taxes…we didn’t cut Medicare…we didn’t create board to tell people what treatments they could get…the CBO says 20 million people will lose their insurance.”  Again, facts.  Such inconvenient things…for Democrats. 

O:  Wow.  He’s trying to blame ObamaCare on Romney.  Really?  Oh, there he goes.  Shout out to Cleveland Clinic.  Giving Ohio love.  What is he talking about?  Oh, the board.  Sorry, he lost me with all the blah, blah, blah.  “Health care costs have gone up, it’s true.”  So, you lied? 

R: “The government is not effective at bringing down the cost of anything.”  This is fascinating.  Sorry…I’m really fixated on how Obama can’t look Romney in the eye.  Two second maximum.  He either looks down or looks at the moderator.  I know.  This is my something shiny moment, and it’s detracting from what Romney is talking about – which is dead-on, as far as the government board not being ideal – but it says a lot about a man who can’t look his opponent in the eyes.  The eyes are a window to the soul.  What should I infer here?

O:  He’s talking, but he’s not saying anything. 

R: “What we did in Massachusetts is a model for the nation, state by state.”

JL: New segment, the role of government: “Do you believe there’s a fundamental difference in the way you view the mission of the federal government?”

O:  Blah, blah, blah.  Oh, shout out to Abe Lincoln.  He’s basically saying that Lincoln was a big government guy.  Really?!  Education.  “Let’s hire another 100,000 math and science teachers.”  Again, shout out to your union buddies. 

R:  “Every school district, every state should make their own decisions.”  Wow…I’m loving this.  He’s totally invoking the Constitution.  Great stuff.  “The path we’re taking is not working.  It’s time for a new path.”

O: Am I supposed to take a shot every time he says “Democrats and Republicans”?  Did you really just say, “This is where budgets matter.”??????  Really?!  Your Senate buddies haven’t passed a budget in what is tantamount to eons.  The budget that you presented didn’t get a single vote in Congress.  You live outside reality.  Oh, I’m supposed to take a shot when he says, “One of the things I did, as president…”  Right. 

R:  “Mr. President, as president you’re entitled to your own house and your own airplane, but not your own facts.”  Zing!  Pretty sure that was lost on him.  Come on.  Stare the governor in the eye for five whole seconds, Mr. President.  I dare you. 

JL: “Many of the legislative functions of the government are in paralysis due to partisan gridlock…what would you do about it?” 

R:  “…not because we’re going to compromise our principles…”  Democrats don’t know about principles.

O:  “I will take ideas from anyone…”  NO YOU WON’T.  Period.  End. Of. Story.  “You have to have a plan.”  What’s yours?  Just stop.  I’m done with you.  Not that I was ever not done with you, but I’m done with being civil.  Stop talking.  Now.  I’m going to type something that I’ll regret.

JL: Closing statements, Romney won the toss, he chose to go last.  Smart. 

O:  Oh, there’s the multiple state shout outs (North Carolina, Minnesota, and Ohio).  Oh, there’s the DWS talking points.  “I’d fight every single day for the American people…I’ve kept that promise.”  Well, hopefully the American people will relieve you of duty in a few weeks.

R:  No real commentary necessary.  Basically he’s saying, don’t reelect the president unless you’ve loved the last four years. 

I’m not going to commentate on the after proceedings.  I don’t really want to elaborate any further.  I’m going to call this one like I would a football game.  Speculate however you want.

Obama 6, Romney 34

The Democrat National Convention Commentary: Day 3

I’m joining commentary coverage late, as it’s 6:27pm.  I’m currently waging a war on my own apartment, but that’s a story for later.

Let’s just get this over with.  I hope the next four hours fly, because I’m ready for this pathetic excuse for a political convention to be over.

Okay, PBS, let’s get to actual convention coverage instead of fawning over the president and Democrats in pre-taped segments.  Par for the course, I realize, but I’m bored with this attempt at balance.  Though, Mary J. Blige’s set wasn’t sounding so great while you were carrying that, and the race-baiting “reverend” that was speaking before her, I could have done without.  Until they have a real guest in the box or start carrying a speech on the floor, I’m checking out.

One little note, though.  Am I surprised that the spin machine is really downplaying this move from stadium to arena?  For the uninformed – which doesn’t really include my audience – President Obama was supposed to deliver his acceptance speech at the Carolina Panthers’ Stadium – or as everyone else knows it as, the Bank of America Stadium.  It was a combination of bad marketing on the part of that name and the fact that the enthusiasm gap between 2008 and 2012 couldn’t be much greater that facilitated the move.  They’ll blame it on the weather, but it’s bad publicity that’s the real culprit.

Another little note, because I’m still bored with the PBS coverage/propaganda.  Yesterday, the convention “voted” to include “God” and “Jerusalem” in the platform.  The nays were very vocal.  That’s very telling about this party.  What’s even more telling is that they had to hold a second vote to recognize God and Jerusalem in the first place.  This party is obviously hostile to those of the Christian and Jewish faiths.  Which begs the question: why in the world would Jews continually vote for Democrats.  With all the hostility toward the Catholic Church, why would Catholics even contemplate voting for these people?  This anti-Christian, anti-Semitic party really needs a reality check. 

PBS is still bloviating.  They’re talking to “presidential historians” now.  I’m out. 

It’s 7:00, and PBS is actually joining coverage.  I guess they had a late News Hour or something.  No clue.  Regardless, they joined Caroline Kennedy mid-speech.  Could she be any more bland?  Remember what I was saying about Democrat speakers being robots?  Yeah, that’s happening again tonight.  Hello, Jesse Jackson.  She’s been droning on for the past five minutes, and I didn’t detect an ounce of enthusiasm. 

Yikes.  Poor former representative Gabby Giffords led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance earlier in the night.  Good for her.  Too bad she had to be escorted by the lamprey known as DWS.  I’m just surprised that Democrats 1) know the pledge, and 2) include the “under God” part.

Now former secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, has joined the PBS commentators.  Is it sad that this party is clinging to the past so badly?  She looks like she just crawled out of a coffin.  And isn’t it sad that she’s the go-to person in the Democrat Party for national security?  Bored.  I almost give credit to Judy [Woodruff] for asking Albright about the alleged lack of support for Israel.  Naturally, Albright is spinning it, saying Obama is a staunch supporter of Israel.  False. 

Former governor of Michigan  Jennifer Granholm – and current Current TV host – has the crowd surprisingly riled up.  Pretty sure she was doing lines of coke before this speech.  Holy cow. 

Eva Longoria just took the stage to try and inject a little attractiveness into this convention.  Too bad she’s a left wing hack and can’t really break out of her slutty character.  What makes celebrities think that we should listen to them about political issues?  Now she’s railing about paying her fair share.  What’s with these Hollywood hacks that like to preach about paying more, but don’t?  No one is stopping you, Eva, from paying what you believe is fair?  And she’s done.  She’s pretty attractive, but her politics make her lose points in that arena. 

Now the governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer, has taken the podium.  Didn’t someone give this guy the dress code?  Lazy.  “He brought the wrong agenda to Massachusetts, and he’s the wrong guy to be President of the United States.”  So moving Massachusetts from #50 in job creation to #26 is the wrong agenda.  Oh, yes.  For Democrats, that’s wrong.  They’re renowned for wrecking economies.  Uh oh.  He’s bringing up gun licenses.  Isn’t that taboo here?  “That dog don’t hunt.”  Couldn’t you find a better catch phrase for the lemmings to chant?  I’m incredibly bored with this charlatan – trying to appeal to Midwesterners.  Fail.  He’s kind of reminding me of Cousin Eddie from the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies.  I’m surprised he’s using such bold language about taking out Osama bin Laden.  Too bad that that’s about the only legitimate accomplishment of Obama’s presidency – which you can’t really attribute to his leadership. 

Now, former governor of Florida, Charlie Crist – turncoat and Marco Rubio’s floor mop.  “I didn’t leave the Republican Party, it left me.”  Really?  “…Reagan would have been too moderate for today’s GOP.”  Really?!  Oh, let’s just talk common ground.  Again, I’ll translate.  “Common ground” to a Democrat means “taking ground from the GOP.”  When I look at this guy, I see a weasel.  Well, this is a first for the televised portion – the Gulf oil spill.  Talk about a political maneuver.  Obama tried to destroy the oil industry with that disaster.  Like his ole buddy, Rahm Emanuel, said: you don’t let a crisis go to waste.  Why doesn’t this guy just ask, “Can’t we all just get along and sing kum-bi-yah?”   

And now, failed presidential candidate, gold-digger, and Senator of Massachusetts, Mr. Ketchup Queen, er, um, John Kerry.  Oh, there it is.  “An exceptional country does care about the rise of the oceans…”  Knew he couldn’t get far into a speech without spewing Al Gore’s talking points.  Now he’s on to anti-war talking points and blame games.   Oh, yeah, because Mitt Romney wouldn’t have given the order to take out Osama bin Laden.  “Ask Osama bin Laden if he’s better off than he was four years ago.”  Backfire – yeah, President Obama screwed him too, but he’s a terrorist, not a citizen of the country Obama was elected to lead.  Now he’s propping up the “success” in Libya.  Right, because handing a country over to the Muslim Brotherhood is a “success.”  I’m so bored with this notion that Romney isn’t qualified to lead because of his lack of foreign policy credentials.  Really?  Where were Obama’s foreign policy credentials four years ago?  Now he’s saying that Mitt Romney is a flip-flopper.  Well, you are the authority on flip-flopping, aren’t you, Senator?  Oh my goat.  Get this pompous windbag off the stage.  He just made a Sarah Palin joke.  That’s how obsessive this party is.  It can’t let go. 

Okay, I had to take a phone call, so I missed the end of Senator Ketchup’s, doh, Kerry’s speech, as well as the first part of the interview with Bob McConnell, Republican governor of Virginia.  I’m surprised that PBS is giving time to the counter argument.  He’s not saying anything that he didn’t say last week, so I’m going to take a break for sustenance. 

For the love of goat.  How many times can one convention play I Got a Feelin’ by the Black Eyed Peas?!  Fail at both conventions.  That song was a lead-in for Dr. Jill Biden.  “…being a teacher isn’t what I do; it’s who I am.”  And probably a NEA pawn too.  There you go.  Prop up his religion.  He’s allegedly a Catholic.  This party has some serious ground to attempt to reclaim with Catholics.  Short and relatively sweet.  I don’t buy it, but it wasn’t divisive per se.

Now an introductory video for Joe.  This ought to be an evolution of hair plugging.  This video is dragging on and on.  Hopefully this means his speech will be shorter.  Unlikely.  You know what would have been better?  A sizzle reel of his greatest speech moments, culminating with his “put ya’ll back in chains” moment. 

And here he is.  Let’s see if he can top Clinton for awfulness.  Ew.  Did he just called Jill “kitten”?  Ugh.  Normally, I’d think it was cute, but it’s usually gross with Democrats.  Wow.  Really?  He just got his nights mixed up.  Twice.  He must be off script.  It was Tuesday night, when Michelle spoke, Joe.  This speech is a drag.  He’s trying to be solemn, but it’s coming across as sedated.  He sure doesn’t have the crowd riled up.  I’m so bored with this speech that I just trolled the other networks to see if anyone was carrying it.  Naturally, NBC is the only one.  I want to laugh at the points he’s brining up about the president’s character and his drive, but it just sounds depressing.  “[Romney] was willing to let Detroit go bankrupt.”  They did go bankrupt, Joe.  After we poured billions into them.  He says Romney would have approached the auto industry “the Bain way.”  I fail to see what’s wrong with that scenario.  They went through a managed bankruptcy anyways – after the bailout.  “Conviction, resolve, Barack Obama – that’s what saved the automobile industry.”  Really?  Wow.  That’s so lame.  I’m so distracted by Joe’s wattle.  He looks like he should belong in the PBS box.  Now we’re back to bin Laden.  As if that’s the administration’s accomplishment.  The SEALs and our intelligence agencies are the ones that got it done, they just did the obligatory thing and asked for the presidential go-ahead.  “…the finest warriors in the history of the world.”  – and only tepid applause.  This is so sad.  How much can you milk that one event for political gain?  And now he’s got them on their feet.  “Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive.”  He’s really playing up this courage aspect.  Pretty sure Hillary has more [cajones] than Barack.  And now we’re on to DWS’s talking points, and the age-old “war on Medicare” that is prevalent at every single Democrat convention. There’s the mention of the Simpson-Bowles commission again.  When will he mention that Obama rejected that plan as well?  Apparently I missed the outsourcing talking points from DWS.  She must have saved it for this convention instead of giving excerpts of it throughout her appearances on [P]MSNBC.  Same thing with “DREAMers.”  Oh, this ought to be good.  He’s ripping Republicans on their term, “culture of dependency.”  And he completely missed the point.  Finish it up, Joe.  I’m bored.  “You deserve a president who will never quit on you.”  And now I want to make a Brokeback Mountain reference, but the idea of doing so kind of grosses me out.  Bored.  “We see a future…where one isn't forced to live in the shadows of intolerance.”  Was that a gay baiting or race baiting?  Not really following you, Joe.  And now he’s back to solemn, talking about taking care of our veterans.  I’m glad he’s not trying to make this partisan, but I think he’s trying (and failing) to cry, not trying to keep himself from doing so.  And he’s finally done.  It wasn’t as pompous or self-congratulating as Clinton’s, but just as misguided and unsatisfying. 

Now, who’s the warm up for President Kardashian?  (Yes, that’s a Rush reference, but it’s so perfect.)  Oh, so the warm-up act is Senator Dick Durbin from the always-politically pure state of Illinois.  He’s just hitting talking points.  I’m going to get more sustenance.  I love how he brought up the DREAM act that he authored, but can’t celebrate the success of this president in getting it passed.  Instead, he ursurped the checks and blances of our government and issued an executive order to enact it.

Now, a video about Obama and the past, narrated by George Clooney.  How lame.  This video is so awful.  It’s downplaying Barack, and emphasizing Michelle, Joe, and Bill [Clinton].  I want to throw things at the television already.  If that’s indicative of how this speech is going to go, pray for my television, it’s just the messenger. 

And here’s Michelle to introduce him.  A peck on the cheek?  That’s it?  She’s done more for your campaign than you’ve done in the last two.  Probably didn’t poll well to go all Al Gore on her.  Let’s see how abysmal this can get.  He’s been speaking for a few minutes and it’s almost as if I can predict every single word that he’s going to say.  It’s uncanny, really.  And now we’re on to DWS’s talking points.  Wow.  I realize conventions cover the same ground over and over again, but this one just seems like it’s so much more repetitive than the Republican counter-arguments last week.  Maybe it’s because there’s no ideas floating around this convention, but just defense and distractions.  He’s ripping on Republicans wanting tax cuts and to roll back regulations.  Why are those things bad?  Boring.  Where’s the plan for the next four years, Mr. President?  There hasn’t been even a notion of what you’d do with a second term.  You just keep saying, “we’re not done yet”, but what exactly are you not done with?  Wrecking the economy, stamping out the constitution, and stacking the Supreme Court with activist judges?  Okay, he just laid out a short “plan” that sounded oddly like what he said four years ago.  Are we going vintage here?  And there’s the outsourcing comment.  He’s DWS’s [pawn].  “Three proud words – Made in America.”  Obviously, you don’t come with that label.  Yeah, I just went there.  Oh my goat.  I’ve heard this speech a thousand times before.  Your writers need fired.  I’d get mad at this broken record, but this is so expected that it’s sad.  He’s propping up what he’d do with energy for our country, and morphing it into an environmental cause.  “…in this election, you can do something about it.”  I thought the last election was going to stop the rise of the seas and begin healing out planet.  That didn’t happen?  Oh, and back to energy.  You’re so in love with the idea of jobs?  How about green-lighting the Keystone Pipeline?  Yeah, didn’t hear that option floated here.  Now we’re on to education – you know, so we can hit all the notes that he’s hit in the same speech a thousand times before.  Where is something new?  Not that I really expect it, but the American people deserve better.  “…leadership that is tested and proven.”  Proven failure on nearly every level.  Bored.  Michelle doesn’t look very inspired.  Now we’re on to foreign policy.  “Our commitment to Israel’s security must not waiver.”  Way to court the Jewish vote.  You’ve got a lot of ground to make up.  “My opponent and his running mate are new to foreign policy.”  Guess what, Barack, I’d trust them any day with our foreign policies over you.    “…without insulting our closest ally.”  ARE YOU^%$#@! KIDDING ME?!  The Winston Churchill bust, anyone?!  Now we’re on to fiscal policy.  So bored with his logic.  Now he’s on to knocking Congress and alleging that Republicans just want to give tax breaks to their “millionaire friends.”  Come on.  I can’t even type any more, that’s how bored I am.  I’m pretty much auto-tuning him out.  It’s kind of a defensive mechanism.  “We’re not entitled to success.  We have to earn it.”  I guess success is the only thing that you think we’re not entitled to.  “We don’t think that the government is the source of all our problems.”  Well, Mr. President, I agree with President Reagan.  And last time I checked, he has an insurmountably better track record than you.  “The election four years ago wasn’t about me.”  Really?  Tell that to Samuel L. Jackson, who only pulled the lever for you due to your race.  I’m so bored here.  He’s hitting all of the obligatory points to get the crowds on their feet.  Must mean he’s almost done.  And still, there’s no real plan in sight.  Instead, he’s just playing to the demographics he needs to win – Hispanics, women, and gays.  “I’m no longer just a candidate.  I’m the president.”  And thank God we have a system that allows us to get rid of you.  At least, we have that system until (if/when) you get reelected, you decide you don’t like it and issue an executive order to get rid of it.  Still bored.  Wrap it up.  It’s 10:00pm, and the last 40 minutes has been nothing but a broken record/compilation of sound bytes from the last four years.  Now, the sob stories.  For the love of goat, could politicians not use these?  It’s political emotional whoring, and it’s ineffective.  Okay, he’s wrapping it up I believe, so I’m going to already write this speech’s obituary. 

This was a sad attempt to rile the base.  Maybe it worked, but a lot of words don’t win over those with an ounce of intelligence (i.e. anyone that’s not in that room).  Thirty-eight minutes of nothing but promising to fulfill promises he made four years ago.  And now they’re playing Brooks & Dunn’s Only in America.  Don’t ruin that song for me. 

It’s finally over.  I actually feel pretty good for the Republican Party coming out of this convention, because the Democrats had nothing to offer.  Basically, it was a “reelect us and we’ll make more speeches and hate on Republicans more.”  There was nothing of substance, and the whole atmosphere was so much less classy than what went on in Tampa.  Plus, this was almost as if it were the “old” party.  No youthful spirit, and a bunch of has-beens making speeches about accomplishments in former administrations.  There’s no record for Obama to run on, and if people would just use their brains, they’d see that reelecting him would be disastrous for our country.

Mitt Romney can win this thing.  It’s certainly possible.  I’m optimistic about his chances.  However, I’m also a realist, and see that this nation is teeming with idiots.  This should be Romney’s race by 20 points now, and a landslide on election day, but unfortunately it’ll be close down to the finish.  I still hold out hope.  I won’t be one to just sit on the sidelines and watch my country go down the tubes.  Is Romney perfect?  No, certainly not.  But after this convention, he’s clearly a better alternative to what this party in Charlotte has to offer.  This week has been tough.  If you stuck through it with me, I applaud you.  I apologize if you found some of the content off-putting or offensive, but let me assure you – this was the censored/restrained version. 

Thanks again, folks.  Good night.

Romney/Ryan 2012.  

The Democrat National Convention Commentary: Day 2

I’m already depressed.  It’s 5:59pm, and I’m dreading what’s about to come on the television.

Oh, so the wattle and the NYTDB take offense to the term “pundit”?  They prefer “analyst”.  There’s already an angry voice spewing at the podium, but he must not be very important – you know, like most everyone that has spoken thus far at this convention.  I’m bored listening to these “analysts”, so I’m checking out until I have someone else to direct my commentary towards. 

And here’s AFL/CIO president, Rich Trumka.  This ought to be lackluster…at best.  “Mitt Romney doesn’t know a thing about hard work or responsibility.”  Yeah, because being a governor or running the Olympics comes with no responsibility.  I didn’t know that organizing a union was a “fundamental human right”.  Where do these people come up with this?  Oh, and the class warfare has already started.  I don’t remember angry little men giving speeches last week in Tampa.  Pretty sure that’s a prerequisite to speak here – that, or if you’ll speak about abortion rights.

Now the Democrat Senate candidate from Wisconsin, Representative Tammy Baldwin, is in the PBS box hitting all of Debbie Wasserman-Shultz’s (henceforth, known as “DWS”) talking points.  “Work hard and play by the rules…level playing field…hard-working middle class families.”  Seriously, the robots have synchronized early tonight. 

Oh my goat.  It’s Nancy “Stretch” Pelosi!  Yikes.  She is just plain scary, and it looks as if “…the future of our party, the hope of America.”  No, madam plastic.  A win for your party is a loss for the country.  “President Obama has focused on jobs from day one.”  When was the last time his jobs council met?  Now she’s hitting the talking points.  DADT, ObamaCare, equal pay…the usual suspects.  “When you go to the polls, vote for Medicare.  Vote for President Obama.”  Do we really need to cover this material again?  Now she’s doing the same line for social security.  Now the same line about “women’s rights”.  “It’s just plain wrong.”  Lemmings, this convention is full of. 

Now we’re back to the box with Rep. Baldwin and the talking heads.  Bored. 

Now, Democratic women Senators.  Diane Fienstein (CA), Barbra Boxer (CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), and others.  They’re all being trotted out to the instrumental version of Katy Perry’s Firework.  Where’s Claire McCaskill (MO)?  Hmm?  Maybe she’s out trying to salvage a campaign she’ll probably still lose, even though she’s running against a loose-lipped opponent.  Going back to attractive women in politics.  If this sampling is any indication, Republicans own the field of hot women in politics.  Only three of nine of these women are but moderately attractive.  But I won’t dwell on looks, because you’re supposed to be looking at what’s on the inside.  If that’s the case, there’s a bunch of angry little men up there, again.  Barbra Mukulski (MD) was the spokeswoman for the group, and she’s got a wattle as well.  Just listening to her talk is vexing. 

Caroline Kennedy is joining the PBS box, talking about how Uncle Teddy [Kennedy] is at the convention, guiding them.  She says that she’s found that people are engaged on the issues.  If that’s the case, there’s no way her man, President Obama, can get reelected.  He’s got nothing to run on.  She’s actually a terrible commentator, er, um, analyst.  Monotone, unexciting, and bland.  She’s not hitting DWS’s talking points…yet.  So I have to give her partial credit.  She must not have been briefed.  Oh, there’s a “on the side of working families”.  Knew she couldn’t go the whole interview without caving. 

Jennifer Sanchez is performing, and it’s a nice break from the talking heads in the PBS booth.  Too bad this American Idol winner has to stoop to performing to this crowd.  And now they’re cutting back to the talking heads. 

Now the PBS box has the keynote speaker from last night, mayor of San Antonio, Julian Castro.  Let’s see if he goes from likable to angry little man without the smooth transition again. 

Now, the president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards.  This ought to be depressing.  Oh, she just couldn’t resist the media-created Todd Akin controversy.  She’s not as unattractive as her NARAL counterpart, but her words are just as awful.  Okay, she’s not nearly as funny as she thinks she is.  “President Obama understands women.”  Does that mean he’s a woman, because no man understands women.  Period.  (Pun intended.)  She doesn’t exactly have the crowd riled up.  It’s more obligatory cheers than fired up.  Do the Democrats really think that having women renowned for abortion rights speak here will help win them votes?  And there’s the biggest cheer, for her mother, Ann Richards.  Should have seen that coming.  This was probably among the most deceitful speeches so far in this convention.  She barely mentioned anything about what Planned Parenthood stands for, which is nothing short of infanticide.  Instead, she tried to sell the idea of her organization being primarily for cancer screenings and birth control – not abortion, which is the real mantra of the organization. 

Judy [Woodruff] is actually kind of taking it to Mayor Castro on “reproductive rights”. Basically, she asked him why the Democrat party doesn’t seem open to a pro-life candidate.  And Gwen [Ifill] followed up with bringing up his Catholic background.  He’s waffling.  Basically he just said that Catholics are pro-choice, and now he’s walking that comment back.  I don’t think he’s comfortable with this conversation.  He’s sweating.  And the NYTDB just saved the mayor from further waffling and changed the subject back to the economy.  Bad interview, Mister Keynote. 

Now a veterans video.  This ought to be as close as patriotic as this convention gets.  I took a break during this, but the last two speakers, both veterans, were almost non-partisan.  I can appreciate that, but I don’t think they realize that taking care of our veterans isn't a subject President Obama owns.  Everyone in their right minds would want to do that.  They should take another look at his stance on the military.  Like, how cutting the defense budget would seem like a good idea. 

Now, Gov. Deval Patrick is joining the talking heads in the box.  I think the NYTDB is getting irritated that no one is going to give him a straight answer to his question, “What’s going to be the most important legislative accomplishment of Obama’s second term.”  And now the wattle is following up with whether Gov. Patrick thinks Mitt Romney is a felon.  Really, people?  Come on.  Break.

Sister Simone Campbell – executive director of NETWORK, a nun, and Ryan budget-hater – is now at the podium.  I love how she’s talking about compassionate acts but it’s morphing into government control.  “This is part of my pro-life stance, and the right thing to do.”  Sorry, Sister.  There’s no such thing as a pro-life Democrat any more.  We’ll welcome you to the Republican Party when you see that government control will never be as good as the compassion you advocate.  Oh, and when you stop knocking a budget that seeks to save this country’s future. 

Now, Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago is joining the PBS box, talking about campaign finance reform.  I knew we couldn’t go a whole convention without the Koch brothers being mentioned.  I find the Democrats to be at the height of hypocrisy on this issue.  Rail against super PACs, then embrace them.  Bored.  “Republicans didn’t vote for President Obama’s budget.”  Neither did Democrats, Rahm.  Now he’s talking about Republicans wanting to rewrite history.  Really?!  Look at how presidents [F.D.] Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Clinton are revered in history books, while diminishing the successes of Reagan and [G.W.] Bush.  Get real, Rahm.  What a tool. 

Bill Butcher, a brewery owner, is now at the podium.  This is the Democrats’ attempt to prop up their small business credentials.  Short speech.  I figured he’d rail against Romney.  Fortunately, he didn’t.  He’s just misinformed about the president being on his side. 

Now, California Attorney General, Kamala Harris – probably the most attractive woman to speak thus far.  Now watch her ruin whatever attractive qualities she has by spouting DWS’s talking points.  I love how she’s railing about the housing crisis while not accepting the notion that it was her party that created said crisis.  Oh, now she’s on to railing on Wall Street.  Attractive, you may argue, she is, but she’s also a pawn. 

Now a video about immigration.  It’s propping up executive orders.  I have a serious issue with this.  If he’s just going to ignore the laws regarding immigration, what other laws is he going to ignore and issue executive orders to change? 

Benita Veliz, an illegal immigrant, is now at the podium.  Nothing against her, but get in line to do the immigration thing the legal way.  Oh, so the illegal immigrant was just here to introduce Cristina Saralegui, from Telemundo.  No wonder I’ve never heard of her.  Could this Cuban look any more Aryan?  Was that too far?  I think the Democrats are worried that the Republicans have lost their monopoly on Hispanic voters.  Hence, Castro, Veliz, and Saralegui.  I’m bored.  Did she just say, “He helped create a Second Great Depression.”?  If so, I’m sure she didn’t mean to, but she’s right.  Let me translate for you all.  “Comprehensive immigration reform” to Democrats means “amnesty” and “open borders” for the rest of us.  Now she’s railing on Arizona’s immigration laws.  Have I mentioned how much I love Jan Brewer?  Yikes.  That was just lackluster. I couldn’t understand half of it – because half was in Spanish.  Lame.  There was nothing in her speech about learning English, like her Republican counterparts championed last week. 

Now, the president of Carmax, , is at the podium.  And he just blamed Bush.  I’m taking a break.  I wish it was to self medicate, but it’s just not the case. 

And now a video on the auto industry.  This ought to be wrought with inaccuracies.  Yep, slamming Mitt Romney’s op-ed in the NYT.  Seriously, where is the mention of the Chevy Volt?  Where’s the mention of how GM and Chrysler actually did go bankrupt, after the bailout?  Yeah, inaccuracies.  Where did they dig up these pawns.

Who’s this Karen Eusanio.  Oh, naturally, a UAW member.  I assume she’s here to introduce someone?  “President Obama didn’t think about the polls or the politics.  He thought about the people.”  Sorry, honey.  All that Democrats pay attention to is polls and politics.  And there’s Michelle.  I guess she’s not here to introduce anyone.

Okay, maybe she was an opening act for Bob King, UAW president.  Labor leaders speaking at a convention just seems like a conflict of interest.  But then again, unions are just money laundering operations for the Democrat Party.  And now, we’re going to rip on Bain Capital.  It was only a matter of time.  Since when are labor laws, strong unions, and collective bargaining “basic human rights.”  Is this a fantasy event?  Where’s the cosplay?   Now he’s ripping on Wisconsin.  Why?  I think Gov. Walker is doing a phenomenal job taking on the overgrown behemoths that you represent. 

Oh, this ought to be good.  Former employees of Bain Capital – also known as political pawns.  Bored.  This is such a joke.  Speaking of jokes, there’s Joe Biden.  And this is a cyclical double negative.  I don’t hate Mitt, but I hate him.  Really, folks?  Oh, they have beer in the stands.  I’m envious.  Can you tell that I’m easily distracted from the political pawns that will be discarded after the election?  Yikes!  There’s Al Franken, doing his best Jack Nicholson as the Joker impression.  Scary. 

Now, back to the talking heads.  The NYTDB is still upset that the convention hasn’t taken his advice.  I don’t think he realizes that this actually reflects bad on Democrats.  I doubt that’s his intent.  Now the wattle says that we celebrate the auto bailout.  We do?  News to me.  Oh, so this was just a transition into a rant about Clint Eastwood.  Typical liberal.  Bored.

Oh my goat.  This ought to be just awful.  Sandra Fluke (aka, slut) just took the podium.  How long until she mentions Rush Limbaugh?  Oh, so now she’s fear mongering.  Oh, there it is.  Not by name, but it only took her a minute.  But she’s back to fear mongering.  She’s in good company.  “…forcing us to endure invasive ultrasounds.”  What is invasive about an ultrasound?  And there’s the media-created Todd Akin controversy.  That only took two and a half minutes.  This broad is a robot.  Pretty sure she got a makeover before this.  How does it feel, Miss Fluke, to whore yourself out to the Democrat party?  After the election, you’ll be discarded like a form of birth control you advocate.  Too far?  Too bad.  I have no respect for a woman who doesn’t respect the unborn.  Plus, activists don’t do it for me.  Finally, it’s over.  Eight minutes too long. 

Jim Sinegal, former CEO of Costco, is taking the podium.  His warm-up act will be very easy to follow.  Very easy.  Yes, read into that.  I know I sound like a chauvinist, but I really don’t think these women can be demeaned any more than they’ve demeaned themselves by their own words.  Mr. Sinegal’s speech is lackluster.  Monotone, uninspiring, and misguided.  Hahahaha!  One of the delegates is asleep!  Classic! 

And now, Elizabeth Warren, Senate candidate from Massachusetts - and 1/32 American Indian?  “I never dreamed I’d be the warm up act for President Bill Clinton.”  How deep do I need to read into that?  (Yes, I know, there were several double entendres in there.)  Oh goat.  “The system is rigged.”  We’re going to go there, then?  Bored.  There’s the “fair share” comment.  Lame.  Now she’s saying Mitt Romney would raise taxes.  Isn’t it your party who wants the Bush tax cuts to expire?  I think she’s got a sick fantasy of Obama fighting for her.  The way she’s describing his alleged taking on of the big banks, it’s a little disturbing.  Have I mentioned that I’m bored?  And there’s the equal pay reference. Beating a dead horse, anyone?  She just invoked Matthew 25:40.  How about the Democrats look up Exodus 20:13?  Where is the person with the stage hook?  This has been going on for far too long. 

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa just stepped up to the podium.  He’s here to introduce former president, Bill Clinton.  I find his presence here fascinating.  Naturally, here to scout out interns, er, um, prop up his wife’s 2016 run, er, no, why is he here? 

Why is he getting such an ovation?  This should be a cake walk for him.  He doesn’t like Obama, but lying through his teeth is second nature to this guy.  I do find it ironic that Vice President Joe Biden isn’t speaking tonight.  Probably because he doesn’t have a chance of holding a candle to Rep. Paul Ryan’s speech a week ago.  “I want to nominate a man who’s cool on the outside, but burns for America on the inside.”  Again, how am I supposed to read that?  “In Tampa, a few days ago, we heard a lot of talk.”  Not as much hot air as we’re getting here in Charlotte.  One of my sources just told me that if throwable objects were available, they’d be hurled at the television set.  And he’s just warming up.  Yikes!  There’s his and Hillary’s spawn!  And there’s the tell – licking the lips.  So, Republicans are the party of hate?  Right.  This guy is a comedian.  Biting his lip now.  Is that another tell?  “What works in the real world, is cooperation.”  Right.  “Cooperation” to a Democrat means “Republicans caving to their tantrums.”  “He is still committed to constructive cooperation.”  Really?  Wasn’t it Obama that said that “elections have consequences, and [he] won”?  Now he’s heaping praise on Joe Biden and his wife.  “…more partners and fewer enemies”?  Are you kidding me?  Turn your back on Israel and the UK and embrace the Muslim brotherhood?  That’s making us safer?!  I’m so bored.  He’s droning on and on about partisanship in Congress.  Really?  Republicans left Obama a mess?  Last time I checked, the Democrats were in control of Congress starting in 2007.  Who left the mess for whom?  “Are we better off than we were when he took office?”  NO! NO! NO!  Anyone with half a brain knows that.  Don’t try to spin this.  We’re not impressionable interns.  “No one could have repaired the damage he found in just four years.”  Maybe not, but what he could have done, was attempt to stop the bleeding.  Instead, he ripped any band-aid that was on the mess off and sunk the knife deeper.  Did you see the national debt top $16 trillion?  That’s not leadership, that’s abject failure.  I’m so done with this bloviating douche bag.  “The auto industry restructuring worked.”  Before they went bankrupt?  If this guy was Pinocchio, his nose would be in the Atlantic Ocean by now.  And that’s just from this speech.  Gaffe.  “It will cut your gas price in half, er, it will cut your gas bill in half.”  What, bringing up the fact that gas prices have doubled since Obama’s inauguration is a touchy subject?  Wrap it up, Bill.  (TWMS?)  I’m bored, and if you don’t end this lie-fest, I’m going to start chucking my shoes at my television.  I have size 16 shoes, and I like my television.  Don’t make me do it.  Oh, man.  Now he’s just getting to ObamaCare – a term he calls “derisive.”  Aptly labeled.  And just a news flash, over half of Americans favor repeal.  It’s a poll.  You should take notice.  And now he’s taking on Ryan’s Medicare plan.  He is going to crash and burn.  This is making no sense.  And I don’t think anyone in the convention hall is following him either.  They’re just mindlessly cheering.  Because, I mean, it’s Bubba, baby.  This is the stalest argument in the Democrat playbook – and right out of DWS’s talking points.  How many times can you say “end Medicare as we know it”?  And now he’s on to the work requirement for welfare.  Why are we supposed to trust him when he says, “Here’s what happened.”  Did we believe him when he told us what happened with Monica – the first time?!  I love how he’s taking credit for welfare reform, when it was Newt Gingrich and the House Republicans that dragged him kicking and screaming to the table to do so.    For the love of goat.  Now he’s on to debt.  “We’ve got to deal with the debt…What has the president done?”  ADDED TO IT BY $5 TRILLION DOLLARS!  He didn’t even take the advice of the Simpson-Bowles commission!  How many times is PBS going to cut to Rahm “The Fake Tan Rat” Emanuel?  I’m fuming here.  Listening to this guy talk reminds me of how much I loathed him when he was in office.  I was 15 when he left office.  I was raised right and was politically smart from a young age.  Why?  Because I wasn’t indoctrinated in public school.  “We simply cannot afford to give the reigns to someone who will double down on trickle down.”  Seriously.  Get this guy off the stage.  “If you want every American to vote, and you think it’s wrong to change voting procedures…”  Because the Democrat party would never partake in voter fraud.  The fact that I’m still writing infuriates me.  Finally.  It’s over.  The vile man is leaving the stage.  Really?!  Did Bill just bow to Barack?  Taking a cue from our current president, eh?  Get these two idiots off the stage. 

I’ve muted the talking heads.  This was a terrible speech.  Oh, don’t doubt me – the Democrats and their willing spokespeople in the media probably loved it and are [self-gratifying] in the press boxes.  But I loathed every minute of it.  Anyone who buys any of this pathetic excuse for a president’s [malarkey] really needs to see a psychiatrist.  The whole night was a train-wreck.  Worse than last night.  I hate to imagine what’s in store for the finale tomorrow night.  I look forward to it being over.