The idea of gender equality popped into our heads the other day when he corrected Trish.  She was talking about driver’s ed, referred to the instructor as he.  That prompted M to stop her and say Or it could be a she! We should’ve known that would happen – months ago when we talked about the election process and the presidential candidates, we showed him a picture of the Obamas and … he wasn’t sure whether it was Barack or Michelle that was running.  How cool is that?

The New York Times waited until the media was finally allowed to speak to Palin before writing an editorial on Palin’s worrisome world view.  The strong wording of the editorial reflects the very real concerns about someone with Palin’s views being a major influence in the White House.  But I never expected to see a headline like one of today’s articles: Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes.  Ouch – those small town politics won’t go over very well on Capitol Hill, where you have to work with people in spite of your differences.  And Palin may well be one of the last people I’d want speaking to the head of a country with nuclear capabilities.  I doubt the Putins & Kim Jong Ils of the world would respond very well to a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude or other moronic obstinacy.

More non-Fox, non-neocon responses to McCain & Palin:

The Washington Post: ”It’s hard to think of a presidential campaign with a wider chasm between the seriousness of the issues confronting the country and the triviality, so far anyway, of the political discourse… John McCain is a serious man who promised to wage a serious campaign. Win or lose, will he be able to look back on this one with pride? Right now, it’s hard to see how.”

The sensible and thought-provoking Thomas Friedman: ”Who cares how much steel John McCain has in his gut when the steel that today holds up our bridges, railroads, nuclear reactors and other infrastructure is rusting? McCain talks about how he would build dozens of nuclear power plants. Oh, really? They go for $10 billion a pop. Where is the money going to come from? From lowering taxes? From banning abortions? From borrowing more from China? From having Sarah Palin “reform” Washington — as if she has any more clue how to do that than the first 100 names in the D.C. phonebook?”

The Washington Post: “Overall, this was an unsettling interview, with a frustrating lack of follow-up questions. Voters deserve more opportunities for more searching questioning in the short time left before Election Day.”

The columnist Frank Rich: “No longer able to remember his principles any better than he can distinguish between Sunnis and Shia, McCain stands revealed as a guy who can be easily rolled by anyone who sells him a plan for “victory,” whether in Iraq or in Michigan. A McCain victory on Election Day will usher in a Palin presidency, with McCain serving as a transitional front man, an even weaker Bush to her Cheney… The racial component to this brand of politics was undisguised in St. Paul. Americans saw a virtually all-white audience yuk it up when Giuliani ridiculed Barack Obama’s “only in America” success as an affirmative-action fairy tale — and when he and Palin mocked Obama’s history as a community organizer in Chicago. Neither party has had so few black delegates (1.5 percent) in the 40 years since the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies started keeping a record… How do you run against that flashy flimflam? You don’t. Karl Rove for once gave the Democrats a real tip rather than a bum steer when he wrote last week that if Obama wants to win, “he needs to remember he’s running against John McCain for president,” not Palin for vice president. Obama should keep stepping up the blitz on McCain’s flip-flops, confusion, ignorance and blurriness on major issues (from education to an exit date from Iraq), rather than her gaffes and résumé. If he focuses voters on the 2008 McCain, the Palin question will take care of itself.”

The last point in Rich’s editorial is REALLY strange – Karl Rove, conservative mastermind, giving some useful political advice to the Obama campaign?!  It is, however, a good point – all the attention from McCain has been distracted by Palin, just like his missteps were mostly ignored while Obama & Clinton fought for the Democratic nomination.  Considering the response to the interview, it’s pretty clear that Rove’s right – Obama should focus on McCain and let the Palin issue resolve itself.  (Rove’s editorial was published on Thursday, before Palin’s first interview aired.)

And I’m sure there are plenty of folks who’ve voted twice for the now official Worst President in History® who still won’t get it…

Fie on me for not noticing that 1) the author credits Curious George with keeping the US safe, 2) he’s got a pet peeve against people who vote based on a single issue – which he will do himself (recognizing his hypocrisy doesn’t mean anything he’s right about the problem and wrong for not looking at the big picture) and 3) bugs about Obama’s lack of international affair knowledge (somehow Curious George kept the country ‘safe’ despite lacking any worthwhile knowledge whatsover).

Good thing I’m in the habit of making copies of any lengthy blog comments. I can’t let some decent politcal musings go to waste, so here’s my seemingly unintelligent response. If I would change anything it’s the growing feeling that McCain will toe the party line throughout a potential presidency – my gut tells me his moderation will disappear if he’s in power. (I have a thing about going with the gut…) You can read Einstein’s post at http://www.hisfault.com/2008/03/25/the-expat-life-and-views-on-us-politics/

El Response Stupido:

At one point, I went through the I want to leave the US because it’s sucking phase, but that’s passed. I think that attitude does Costa Rica wrong as there are plenty of good reasons to move instead of a mediocre reason to get out.

I do thing that ‘the simple life’ (say, a life involving a lot less stuff) is a valid attractor – so long as one is aware that there is plenty that won’t be that simple (ICE, etc.). You definitely have to be prepared to go with the flow and consider the realities.

Politically, McCain is an odd bird as he’s obviously been a neocon gadfly, but lately he seems to be toeing the party line. I personally don’t think Bush is responsible for keeping the country safe for the past seven years – anyone leading the country after 9/11 would have reamed everyone involved (ie security, intelligence, etc) to make sure it didn’t happen again. Anyone could, which is certainly not limited to a man who invaded a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 (something I sincerely believe has made the world less safe). Bin Laden is alive and that is an absolute injustice. I was in full support of our operations in Afghanistan but absolutely opposed to invading Iraq.

I’ve voted Democratic 4 times and this will be #5. However, if Ron Paul actually got the nomination, I would have given serious consideration to voting for him. I never thought I would vote Republican, but Paul made a lot of sensible points. I’m definitely feeling the libertarian viewpoint more and more.

For this election, I’ve decided on Obama. I don’t think the preacher issue is that big of a deal as I don’t believe that he’s hate-mongering every minute of every sermon. I frankly doubt he’d be able to keep his flock if he was like that 24/7. Obama’s speech on race showed me that he believes in facing an issue rather an avoiding. He had the guts to be publicly against invading Iraq at a time when everyone else folded in the face of jingoistic fervor. That – along with not dropping the preacher like a hot potato over one incident – tells me that he is not afraid to stand by his beliefs.

His lack of foreign policy experience doesn’t bother me because he’s intelligent. Bush is not (cunning yes, intelligent no). Obama has the acumen to learn and understand. Why would McCain, for being so experienced, not know who’s on what side in Iraq (with Lieberman there to point it out)? McCain’s not a terrible man, by any means, but I think the way he’s been toeing the party line since Huckabee dropped out gives me cause for concern.