Am I wrong in thinking the 30 minute ad buy in prime time for Obama's campaign has a hidden danger in turning off folks who might be on the fence? Something in my gut tells me this is a bad idea. Or maybe I'm drinking too much tea or something? I secretly hope the World Series doesn't go to game 6. I just hope that whatever the content is doesn't give fodder for those who might think this is an arrogant, "measuring the drapes" kind of thing. I wonder whether it's necessary.

Evacuate? In our moment of triumph?

I'm reminded of that line in Star Wars this morning, turned on its end, I guess. Before I started my daily round of blog reading, I was thinking to myself: "Eight days until this Historic election, and it's looking good for Obama and thus, for America!"

And then I start reading about the coming right wing populist fascism that will threaten our very fabric. This is gloom and doom stuff. Something in the water, perhaps? I read it here, here and here. The election hasn't happened yet, folks. Let's get to that bridge first.

As if we didn't already know that the McCain campaign's final solution, if you will, to try and eke out a win was through race baiting, now there's this hoax which seals the deal. Now, I'm not saying they planted the hoax, but they were all too quick to hop on board.

And I think it's one of the reasons why moderate, and thinking Repubs are doing the previously unthinkable and endorsing Obama. There's a lot of fear to go around these days, but I do think a fear of being pegged on the wrong side of history is a real one. Say what you want about McCain the man. At best he's unable to control the machinations of his own campaign, and that would say a lot about his aptitude or ability to lead the Executive branch. At worst? Well, I suspect it looks, walks and quacks like a duck.

So, Hank Jr.'s against Obama. Shocker. These guys are still bitter over the "bitter" flap. What's worse, saying (and I'm paraphrasing now) "I can see why some might get bitter and cling to slogans like 'god, guts and guns' without thinking shit through about the plutocrats in disguise they've been voting for all these years?" Or saying (still paraphrasing) "People who live in small towns are the only real Americans. If you live in a big city you're anti-american." I am reminded why I hated the rednecks in my home town as a kid. I hope it goes without saying that not everyone in my town was a redneck, and I have long lasting friendships from there as well as places I've lived since. But in this climate, it seems everyone's in lockstep with their given stereotype. Yet I am at least encouraged by this news.

My gut tells me that this business about people who live in "real" America versus...what, "fake" America?!...is the nail in the coffin to GOP candidates in the minds of independents and wavering democrats everywhere. The mask is certainly off this week, isn't it? It reminds me of that commercial, guess it's Verizon, about the mom who recollects missing the call for her child's birthday party about how they were sending the "T-REX" instead. The "real" GOP, if you will.

I am ready for the election to happen. The campaign, as usual, has been a big obsession and I guess I should admit I'm a bit of a political junkie. There are other things going on.

Firstly, Olivia is 1, and we have a new baby on the way, the due date we suspect will be in late May.

Second, housing prices have fallen so low in Oakland and elsewhere in the East Bay that buying a house for us might actually be an option. We've paid off our old debts. Funny how being unable to afford to buy a house all these years makes us look like geniuses for holding off until now, when the market has taken such a crap that we might be able to buy one. Up until about six months ago, we were planning a possible move to the midwest to buy there. Then we started looking at the numbers and took stock of our lives. Though I'm from the midwest, did I really want to start all over again? And do I really, REALLY want to freeze my ass off for six months out of the year if I don't have to? There were other considerations, too, but I won't get into all of that.

There is a threat to this plan, though. Call it a reality check, a.k.a storm clouds on the work front. The economy might eventually affect my employment if things keep up. I can survive through this deep into next year, then we will have our own house, California home owners. I would have never thought this to be possible. So, I will try to keep my head up and keep my eyes on the prize, come what may.

And Joe's a tax cheat? Oh look, the links to http://apps.co.lucas.oh.us/onlinedockets/Docket.aspx?STYPE=1&PAR=LN200701803-000&STARTDATE=01/01/1900&ENDDATE=01/01/2100&PARTY=D,1 indicate that whatever was there was taken down.

Yup, just as I suspected. Joe's a fraud. Why do I get the feeling there's a money trail that leads to McPalin or RNC?

Joe the plumber is a republican, you can be sure of that. And I guarantee you he is not an undecided voter. I mean..."social security is a joke?" He knew who he was going to vote for all along and you can be sure he won't change his mind.

Fox "News" = Pussies.

Don't like what you hear>? Pull the plug.

And just in case you don't believe me (prev post), have a look at the beginning of this video. Not a shred of decency among these "dead men walking."

And then have a look at this behind the scenes footage of Obama, Biden, supporters and family. I have never wavered in my support for Obama since February of 2007. I had my doubts he could pull it off in the primaries early on, but never wavered from my support. This is a good man. We need him as President, now more than ever.

I can't help but think that footage of some of the McCain/Palin supporters, and the GOP candidates' willingness to look the other way is going to scare a lot of decent folks away. I can only hope that moderate repubs will think twice before casting a vote for this crowd.

So the wingnuts of America are mad, stark raving mad. Tell me something else I don't already know. They're mad because they think they're gonna lose. And they're probably right. So I fully expect the remaining days of McCain's campaign to slouch ever closer to pandering to the racists out there in this country. You know the ones, the right wing rednecks who think the Obamas are "uppity." They're just pissed that the global financial panic happened on Bush's watch. I'm starting to smell a landslide, knock on wood.

I think it's time to resurrect an old word to describe the current global economic situation: panic. We are in a global financial panic. The word was changed to depression in the last century, but now it's time to bring it back!

I think folks need clarification about McCain's supposed mastery of the town hall format: He's a master of the town hall format when his audience is partisans who favor him. He did not look good last night. Obama, hands down. Obama was calm, methodical, perhaps a little boring, but that's a good thing.

McCain must be seeing Obama in the mirror. I think it's hilarious that McCain would attribute an Obama response as an "angry barrage of insults." I mean, huh? I swear, McCain is TRYING to lose this thing, he's clearly gone off his rocker.

Ok, he voted for it. But there is this.

Ok, now that a Senate vote is imminent, watch McCain. I'll bet he does another unpredictable move and votes against the bill, and I'll bet he blames it on pork. The stage is being set as we speak.

Luckily for Obama, the roll call goes in alphabetical order, so McCain's up first. Unless, of course, he waits for a repeat call. If he's not recorded in the first vote and Obama goes first...WATCH OUT!

Okay. I'm about 1/4th of the way through the Alaska Governor's Debate of 2006.

One word of advice to Biden tomorrow: Don't say anything that will give Joe Sixpack an inferiority complex. Instructive to this is Palin's response to a question about where she would live in the state if it wasn't her home town? 18:02-18:56. Check it out.

This is the classic neoconservative construct: Liberal elites don't respect our way of life. "Laugh if you will..." etc.

Beyond that, we know about her support for "life" under all circumstances (except when the mother might die from childbirth). Even when the mother is raped...although she does seem to pay lip service to "this is my choice, but." This is at 13:10 - 14:20.

In addition, early on she kept repeating her aversion to hypotheticals. One of the panelists then smacks her down a bit at 34:18. What follows is interesting.