Mixed Bag

Still getting back in the swing of updating regularly. Will be more regular next week. For tonight you get an early edition of mixed bag.

Is it really a typo when it is an accurate description? AP had the following in an article today:

"His top contenders are said to include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Less traditional choices mentioned include former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, an abortion-rights supporter, and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential prick in 2000 who now is an independent."

Joe is suing them for definition of character.

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I've never been a big fan of John Edwards, but the recent report that he used his wife's illness to keep the Charlotte News and Observer from publishing a story on his affair last year is sleazy even for a former lawyer.

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I love the fact that Rush Limbaugh is worked up at the prospect of McCain naming a pro choice running mate. Unfortunately we will be deprived of his backtracking because McCain will go with a pro life candidate. I don't see him going with anybody but Pawlenty. I'd be legitimately surprised if it is anyone else.

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Rumor has it that if Biden is picked as VP his speech will be moved to Tuesday so it is complete by the time Obama takes the stage Thursday. All kidding aside, Biden is the best pick out there now that Jim Webb is out of the mix.

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There has been a lot of worry about the tightening of the race and the comparisons to 2004 when Kerry was ahead at this time. The major difference is that 4 years ago Kerry was 1 month removed from the convention and was still waiting on the Bush's convention. The GOP did a great job in skewering Kerry and it took him a while to recover. (let's not forget he won all three debates and was leading in the polls in the last week).

The difference should be that the conventions are at the same time, the candidates will get a chance to contrast each other over the course of a week.

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Yesterday there were a bunch of nonsensical stories about McCain outspending Obama in some key battleground states. There is one major reason for this. McCain needs to empty his bank account by September 1st at which point he will have $85 mil of his own money to spend to compete against Obama who will have a war chest of no less than $200 mil to spend over the same time.

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Speaking of money if Obama and the DNC raised $78 million last month, I would expect that with the convention this month and the Boston and San Francisco fund raisers (which raised about $14 mil between them) he will rake in over $100 mil this month.

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McCain is announcing his VP pick at a rally next Friday in Ohio in front of 10,000 yawning fans. (hopefully the green background stays at home). He is then going to Pennsylvania where he will have another large rally. The Obama campaign should show their fighting spirit and plan rallies in neighboring towns for even larger crowds.

Steal every new cycle.

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Leon Panetta recently confirmed that Bill Clinton is still deeply wounded from the primary. Seriously, you treated your wife a heck of a lot more disrespectfully than Barack did. If you give anything less than an enthusiastic endorsement at the convention, you will have demeaned your status in the party even lower still.

Bill get the %uck over it.

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Recently the NYTimes had a story about some Dems that were concerned about the lack of specificity of Obama's campaign. Seriously? So far I know three things McCain stands for; the surge, lower taxes and off shore drilling. That's all the guy ever talks about I know simple ideas sell but show some grasp of the complexity of the issues John.

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The Rick Warren Forum Saturday was definitely a home game for John McCain. He performed well sticking to some easily digestible sound bites. Obama was much more thoughtful and reflective. Unfortunately after 8 years of easily digestible Bush cookies, you would think the American public would starve for something else. We know that not to be true.

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Lastly, when does someone make an issue of McCain's age? He will be 72 the day after the Democratic convention ends. He is too old to be President. He will be 76 at the end of his first term and 80 should he serve 2 terms. It would be one thing if he were a young 72, but when you look at him next to his peers, he is an old 72.