You Can Call Him Mr. President!

On November 4, 2008 the world watched in suspense as votes across the country were tallied leading to Barack Obama’s historic win. The Senator from Illinois, was elected the nations first black President. Now more than a week later, reality has set in for most people and it’s not the total calamity that many of President-elect Obama’s opponents thought it would be.

President-Elect Obama seems to moving in a very rapid and smart manner. He has made the financial crisis a top priority. He has his transition team in place before the election to make sure they “hit the ground running”. He has been having regular meetings with his economic advisory board made up of people he trusts.

This new president has many challenges starting out, the financial crisis being at the top, also, a high unemployment rate, a $10 billion a month war and a country divided by a long and brutal election cycle. The best thing Barrack Obama can do, is make sure he retain the help of the very best when it comes to the economy, foreign policy and the war in Iraq.

The transition of power looks like it may be a smooth one. This week President and Mrs. Bush met with the Obama’s at the White House. President Bush has vowed to make the transition as easy as possible. I believe that he will work hard to make sure that the transition is seamless.

Now is the time for all Americans to unite and work together to get this country back on track. The election is over. The winners have been very sensitive and not gloating at their victory. They are reaching out to the opposition to help solve the nation’s big issues. To me, that what a President does, lead the entire nation and not just the party they belong to.

The Comedy Of Politics

Everyone loves a good joke, especially if it’s at the expense of an elected official. For years politicians have been the source of material for the late night shows. Shows like “The Tonight Show”, “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “Saturday Night Live” are notorious for their political satire. It’s always a treat when the politician being poked fun at makes an appearance and can laugh at themselves. On Saturday night, Governor Sarah Palin did just that. Sarah Palin stopped by the “SNL” studios and made an appearance in a couple of sketches. Although she didn’t say very much, it was obvious she was having fun with it.



Over the years we’ve seen politicians that are often the bud of jokes on late night television make appearances. I remember President Bill Clinton playing the saxophone on “The Arsenio Hall Show”. Janet Reno made an appearance on “SNL” in 2001 and in 2002 Al Gore hosted the show. So why would politicians appear on shows that make fun of them? Well the answer has more to do with who’s watching those shows. Today, younger adults are getting their information from shows like “The Daily Show” or “The Colbert Report”. “Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update is so popular that they have a special Weekend Update on Thursdays. The candidates are always campaigning for votes; they want to win people over. So they go on these shows to look more human. People can watch and see that they are people too, and they can laugh at themselves. These shows have a huge followings. Sarah Palin’s appearance on “SNL” was the show’s highest rated episode in 14 years.

With less than 2 weeks until Election Day, we can expect the candidates to step up the campaigning until election night. So I’ll expect the jokes and the sketches to get even funnier as “E-Day” approaches. Although I love the sketches and jokes, my favorite form of political satire comes from Mike Luckovich, a national syndicated political cartoonist. I think his drawings are pretty right on!

We Finally Hear From Gov. Palin Herself

Well it finally happened, the interview with Alaska’s Governor Palin. Charles Gibson’s interview with John McCain’s running mate was the first of several interviews to air. I now know why it took them so long before they let her sit down with reporters. I wasn’t impressed with her answers. Charles Gibson and even the women from “The View” having interview John & Cindy McCain, have gotten criticism for the questions they asked. First off these people are running for the most powerful position in this country, not the PTA. They need to be asked the hard questions. They may not like the questions, but the people want the answers to them.

Governor Sarah Palin certainly has the republicans party fired up, but what concerns me is how she downplays the state of economy. Just days after the interview aired, Wall Street stumbled. The markets went down, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, insurance giant AIG is in trouble and Merrill Lynch has been sold to Bank of America. What is the “appropriate role of government”? I would think it would be to help stabilize the American financial system?

Gov. Palin told Charles Gibson that “our economy is weak right now.” I think weak would be an understatement. She says that Government should play an appropriate role, but what exactly will that role be. John McCain has flip-flopped on the issue of government bailing out Wall Street. McCain said that government shouldn’t get into the mess that irresponsible Wall Street executives made. But after the Fed announced an $85 billion dollar bailout of AIG, McCain’s tune changed to sound a lot like that of the White House.

Even with the bailout of AIG, Wall Street reacted to the news, and the markets took another tumble. The economy is more than just weak, it’s a disaster. Banks are struggling to stay afloat. Rumors are floating that Washington Mutual is up for sale. I call it homemade financial terrorism. The Housing market and sub-prime mortgages burst, now banks, insurance, stocks are falling.

All before now McCain has been saying that the market will correct itself and now action is needed. But I disagree. The numbers speak for itself, unemployment is up and don’t forget the number of people that have exhausted their unemployment benefits and not found jobs. They almost never get included in the figures which would make the unemployment rate significantly higher than those announced by the government. Homeowners across the country are on the brink foreclosure.

AIG’s bailout, whether we agree with it or not was done with taxpayer money. So if AIG is getting bailed out, I think struggling taxpayers deserve a bailout as well. If Sarah Palin’s interview is any indication of what’s ahead if she is VP, then I’m pretty concerned.

Gov. Sarah Palin Finally Does Interviews

We will finally get to see an interview with Sarah Palin, the republican nominee for Vice President. The McCain campaign hasn’t made her available for interviews since it was announced that she was McCain’s running mate. After all the attacks on her about her daughter to lack of experience, I would have expected to come out swinging with a whirlwind of interviews. That didn’t happen, so now it gets me to wondering.

Did John McCain really know about the Bristol Palin’s pregnancy? It would seem with all the delay in making her available to reporters that they have something to hide. Perhaps more than we even know. Perhaps they are giving her an intensive prepping so she will be ready to face the media.

It seemed clear to me and most other people that saw her at the RNC, that she is more than capable of holding her own in an interview. So why the wait? If anything whatever positive effects Sarah Palin brought to John McCain is slowly being eroded by keeping her away from the press. It just sends up red flags all over the place. Perhaps John McCain will better explain why they have been hiding her. Better yet, maybe Governor Palin will explain herself.

Governor Palin will finally do interviews, with the first of them airing on ABC News. Charles Gibson will be interviewing the Governor. The interview will be aired in parts over a few of the ABC News show like World News, Good Morning America and the news magazine 20/20. I’m sure the question many are asking is, could Hillary Clinton have put Barack Obama in a better position? We will never know.

Hockey Mom Accepts Republican Nomination

On the third night of the Republican National Convention, Gov. Sarah Palin accepted her party’s nomination for Vice President. She talked a lot about her family. Her husband is a snowmobile racer and championship fisherman; her son serves in the United States military. She spoke of her three daughters and her infant son with special needs.

I thought the beginning of her speech was the most important. Basically it was a formal introduction of her husband and children. We know more about her commitment to her family. It’s what the whole country in a sense has been waiting to her about. She asked how dare the left question her parenting skills. She said that if elected, parents and families of special needs children could trust that they would have an advocate in the White House.


She made it clear she wasn’t part of the Washington political establishment. That the same people who tried to derail Sen. McCain in 2000 was also trying to cast doubt about her. She presented a pretty strong case of why she is the VP nominee. She fought corruption in her state of Alaska. She was able to get ethics laws passed into law. Rudy Giuliani talked about her experience as a mayor and governor being more that that of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Bidden together. I don’t know if you can fairly say that. Sen. Bidden has been in Washington a while now. She also blasted Sen. Obama for not being able to make lead in crisis and his lack of significant legislation.

The Governor spoke of John McCain being a prisoner of war. She talked about his character and leadership during those dark times of his captivity. The sacrifice he made for his country. Her speech showed us how much she respected him as a leader. She talked of the need to move this country from its dependence on foreign oil and the development of alternate energy sources. All excellent points I think on ways to lift the huge financial costs off the shoulders of the American people.

Tonight if there was any question whether this “Hockey Mom” was a good choice for a running mate, it’s been answered. She showed us she can handle what her critics throw at her and she can fight back. She has energized John McCain’s campaign, exactly what they needed to do at this point. They have opened a door that Sen. Obama in a way closed when he passed Hillary Clinton over as his running mate. Gov. Palin just may be able to pull in those undecided Clinton voters. These are exciting times for both parties. Both the Democrats and Republicans are making history now. I really can’t wait to see what happens next.

Sen. John McCain Names Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as Running Mate

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won the Republican VeepsStakes. The Gov. Appeared with John McCain at a press conference earlier today.

In what I can only characterize as a near upstage to Barrack Obama’s nomination last night, Sen. John McCain has tapped Alaska’s Governor, Sarah Palin to be his Vice Presidential running mate. Gov. Palin is a 44 year old mother of five, one of whom has Down syndrome. The Governor is considered a fiscal conservative, and a political outsider. She is the youngest Governor in Alaska’s history.

It’s more than obvious that McCain wants to use Gov. Palin’s naming as his running mate to reach those angry Hillary Clinton supporters who have vowed not to vote for Sen. Obama. It’s a gutsy and very bold and smart move for Sen. McMcain. I don’t think he will be able to lure many Clinton supporters. Gov Palin and Sen. Clinton have totally different values. Gov. Palin is Pro-life and has a lifetime membership with National Rifle Association.

The next hurdle John McCain will have to overcome is the lack of experience Gov. Palin has in office. She is only in her first term as Governor. Are people really going to be comfortable having a VP, with very little experience within reach of the Presidency? McCain will have to work overtime spinning the Governors lack of experience versus all the benefits she brings to the campaign.

VeepStakes MiStake????

Last night I watched Hillary Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention. I have to tell you, if I didn't know any better I would have thought she was the presumptive nominee for President. She not only sounded Presidential but she looked Presidential. From her suit, posture, her walk, tone of voice, and her words, she wore the role like it was natural to her. It makes me wonder why she isn't the nominee. Well I'm pretty sure her supporters have asked that question a million times. With so many people watching and listening, this is probably the most important speech she will ever give. So much was riding on what she said. I think her words got through to many of her angry supporters. While a few are still on the fence or being courted by the Republicans.

Hillary Clinton was greeted by a standing ovation. She not only energized but she laid the case out on the table why you should vote with her for Obama for President and not McCain. I think that it is remarkable, just simply amazing that this woman is so gracious having lost the chance at the world's most powerful job, to lend her support to her former rival. She put it all out there on the line for him, and she came through big time. I'd definitely say that Sen. Obama owes here a favor or two. Perhaps Attorney General or Secretary of State now that VP is filled???

Only time will tell whether Barrack Obama's choice in a running mate was a mistake. Sen. Biden is a distinguished statesman, and I'm sure he has all the right qualifications, but he's no Hillary Clinton. And that's biggest thing this campaign has to over come fast to stay a float. It's day three at the DNC convention and we get to hear from Sen. Biden. Over the coming weeks we are going to know more than we wanted about him, his wife and kids. I guess in the back of my mind I will always wonder What if....

The Beginning of the End For Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's Campaign

On Tuesday night Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's quest to become the nation's first female President came to an end. Sen. Obama secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination, making him the first African American nominee of a major political party. Sen. Clinton congratulated Sen. Obama on his impressive campaign but did not immediately concede.

Sen. Clinton decided not to do anything about her campaign Tuesday night and would instead look at her options later in the week. That choice by Sen. Clinton has been viewed by some as stealing Obama's thunder after he has just made history. Now there are lots of concerns now about unifying the party. But the question many people are wondering is can the party come together? This primary season has gotten very ugly, so ugly that the party is divided nearly down the middle. Sen Clinton and Obama each have received nearly or around 18 million votes. The difference in delegates isn't that far apart. I think going into the race Sen. Clinton was presumed the likely winner because of her obvious connection to President Clinton. As the races played out and the other democratic candidates started to be picked off, it started to become clear that Sen. Clinton would have a to overcome a lot of media bashing and beat out Sen. Obama to win the nomination. In the end it can be said that both senators ran strong campaigns, especially Sen. Clinton. Every time she got knocked down, she stood back up and continued to fight. A few weeks ago the top members of her party were calling for her to throw in the bag, but she continued to press on, and made quite a good showing for it.

I think it reasonable for Sen. Clinton not to concede Tuesday night but to regroup and work out a way to start to unify the party. The Clinton's are not use to losing, so it's definitely a new experience for them so people need to give Sen. Clinton a little time to do what we know she will ultimately do. I believe she wants what's best for her party. I remember that there were threats by some Clinton supporters to vote McCain or stay home if Sen. Obama was the nominee. So i think there is going to have to be some very gentle handling of these supporters if they hope carry them into "Obama for President."

Now that Sen. Obama is the Democratic nominee for President everyone in the party needs to get on the Obama train if they hope to win this election. I know that this race has split the party but now that it's over the Obama camp needs to start passing the olive branches. He needs to work with Sen. Clinton to heal all of those hard feelings the campaigns have caused on both sides. It seems that Tuesday night Sen. Clinton called Sen. Obama and offered to discuss a few things. It's been reported in the media that she may positioning herself to become Sen. Obama's running mate. Can you imagine a Obama/Clinton ticket, both bringing the support that they have both enjoyed this primary season. It has the potential to be a great combination if Sen. Clinton doesn't try to force herself on Sen. Obama. That would be a tragic mistake on her part. On the other hand Obama should give her some serious consideration.

This is the first time in eight years that the democrats are going into an election race with the greatest momentum to win. Popular opinion on the war in Iraq favors them if they don't screw it up. So when Obama and Clinton meet and discuss plans to bring the party together, how they handle the situation could very well determine the next President.