Campaign Finance

Unless the (state, local) polls are ridiculously wrong the presidential race is decided, Obama is the 44th President of the US.  The financial advantage of the Obama campaign virtually ensures that the ground game will overwhelm the McCain campaign.  The democrats are outspending the republicans by almost astronomical amounts.  I do not believe the staunch Republican base will allow this to occur over the next two presidential elections.  McCain was essentially forced to take federal funding due to his dearth of support amongst the republican base.

Troopergate Redux

Why are we even discussing this?  It all seems like picking on the homely kid, gone mad.  Why is this country even discussing this matter at this time?  I have a thought, because our electoral process and our republic as constituted has failed.   The 'Troopergate' findings were readily foreseeable, this isn't the result of a political witch hunt.  Palin trods the same road as many before her and surely those who will follow.  It is not about ideology, it is about power, personal and sloppily utilized.

Interestingly, the Obama campaign has remained reticent, almost passive regarding the report.  Prudently so, me thinks, as the facts speak loudly.  Remember, the Governor, wisely, hasn't spoken under oath as to her involvement or non-involvement of the matters at issue.  Perhaps her silence allows her another opportunity in the arena, but it seems almost certain that the her designation as VP candidate will not go unrewarded.  The choice of Sarah Palin as VP of the Republican ticket ranks among the dumbest decisions made by a major party in the last 150 years. 

Scott Schmidt is a clown, I wish him no future work in his chosen profession.  His actions reflect an absolute disdain for the American electorate.  Schmidt's recklessness and hubris unfortunately has brought shame upon a genuine patriot, John McCain and the Republican party.  In doing so, Mr. Schmidt and his acolytes have done all Americans a terrible disservice.  

Palin Inquiry Report Issued

An inquiry instigated by the Alaskan legislature issued a 239 page report finding that Gov. Palin abused the power of her office by pressuring subordinates to try to get her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired.  To be clear, this wasn't a politically motivated investigation, it predates the nomination of Palin, was approved 15-0 (9 Republicans and 6 Republicans) by the relevant committee of the Alaskan legislature and on and on, but I digress.

The findings are not a surprise, the evidence of the Palins' ham-handed attempts to shit can state trooper and ex-brother-in-law Wooten (probably, but not relevantly, a creep).  The bigger takeaway is the incompetence of Steve Schmidt, McCain's head strategist who engineered the choice of Sarah Palin and the blind complicity of McCain.  This report and its findings were foreseeable, the timeline of the report on the investigation was known and the results imminently predictable, yet she was chosen.  

Palin is an intellectual lightweight not worthy of national office.  Excuses to the contrary are strained, patronizing and nonsensical.  She is emblematic of the sad state of politics.  Find someone glib, telegenic and ultimately politically malleable and sell them to the public.  Palin's nomination is an insult to politicians, the Republican party and the American public.        

Biden - Palin Debate

Palin started of strong, well drilled, glib and forthright, but about 10 p.m. EDT the wheels came off.  She is so clearly out of her depth.  She rattles on, butchers the english language and regularly tosses in a non sequitar.   

I often have no idea what she is talking about.

Palin Hits the Syncophant Circuit

Interestingly, Palin's handlers have decided to put the Governor on the friendly talk show circuit.  This decision appears to have been made rather suddenly as there wasn't any promotion of the Hugh Hewitt radio show yesterday and is on Sean Hannity's show right now.  Note, that talkingheads on the right began screaming for just this strategy this weekend following Palin's rambling implosion during her interview with Katie Couric.

It's All About the Vote Counters

The approval of the Rescue Plan appears ready to sail through the Senate this evening, but that's when the game begins.  Sweetners have been added to entice a few votes and one expects that each has been put in order to extract particular congressmen's support.  It is notable that the tide has turned a bit since the weekend.  Far more calls to Washington are in support of the bill.

I'm not terribly surprised by the shift in sentiment.  The huge sell-off on Wall Street Monday brought the underlying issues into better focus.  The issue emanates in the credit market, markets not widely followed nor understood by the American public.  It's spillover will impact all elements of the US economy if allowed to fester.  The  reason the stock market hasn't completely tanked is because it is driven more by emotion than cold, calculated analysis like the credit markets.

One question I have is why the House vote isn't until Friday.  I don't know why.  Right now Boehner and Pelosi better have a hard count or god help us.  I'm long S&P futures under the presumption that the numbskulls will come to their senses.