Happy Labor Day

Governor Palin

One thing about Obama's pick of Biden as VP, it meant that people would say, "oh, hey, great choice" and move on, because we already know all about Biden, good and bad. There isn't any getting to know you type media coverage needed, because he was just a serious candidate for president this past fall.

With Palin, it's different, we get to spend time learning about her. Like the fact that she named her daughters after television characters (that also happened to be witches). And the fact that she thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.

http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html

So, kudos to McCain for picking a woman, I think that's great for America. Let's see what we learn about her in the next few days, and then we'll get to decide, was this pick smart, or was it utterly ridiculous? So far, given what I've seen from McCain in this campaign, my money is on ridiculous.

Duke football

Yes, I know, nobody cares about Duke football, but I'm an Iron Duke, so I kind of care. Plus, just got this email regarding Saturday's game.

Here are a few important reminders for this Saturday's football home opener versus James Madison at 7:00 pm.

We are expecting a capacity crowd. We encourage all fans to arrive at the stadium early to avoid traffic and long lines.

Is James Madison even a Division 1 team? And we sold out the stadium? This is sweet.

Iraqi politicians prefer 2010

Much was made of this fact a few weeks ago, that the Iraqi leadership wants the US out of Iraq, and wants us out in 2010. It was big news, because that timeline is pretty much what Obama has been proposing for months. It seemed to really undercut Bush/McCain on the issue, and for some reason, it has dropped out of the national news.

Now we have this story, which is that in recent negotiations, the Bush team requested a 2015 withdrawal date, while the Iraqis said, nope, we want you out by 2010. They compromised and came up with 2011.

Think about this for a second. A democratically elected government in Iraq is asking us to leave, and we say, no, let's stay longer. In fact, let's stay 5 years longer than you want. The Bushies obviously have some leverage (i.e. the Iraqis still need us) so they were able to get it pushed out to 2011. But we are basically an occupying force, and the Iraqis want us out, and we are saying, nah, we like it here, we might even build some summer cottages and stay awhile.

Does the average American get this? That we are basically paying billions of dollars a month and risking peoples lives to stay in a country that wants us out ASAP and we keep begging to stay longer?!?!

I need a drink.

We can't do anything right

Seriously, everybody knows now that the Iraq invasion was a mistake. But hey, while we're there, can't we, like, steal all their oil or something?

China and Iraq have signed a $3 billion deal revising an earlier agreement for China's biggest oil company to help develop the Ahdab oil field, an official at the Iraq's Oil Ministry said Thursday.

Damn! Those Chinese again! We invaded this country and spent trillions getting rid of Hussein, the least Iraq can do for us in return is just give us all their oil! Bunch of ingrates. And now they're off making deals with the GOP's next big enemy! This must all be too much for Kristol and the Weekly Standard folks to bear.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/08/china_hails_3_billion_oil_deal.php

Great night in Denver

Everybody seemed to do pretty well last night, Clinton, Biden, but I was shocked at how good John Kerry was. He really hit McCain hard with some quotes and lines that I think Obama should be using more often, maybe in some TV ads.

I've seen some discussion today saying things like "well, if Kerry had been that good 4 years ago, he'd be running for re-election". Which got me thinking - there seems to be an upside, in some cases, to being a loser of a national election. Jimmy Carter, loses in 1980, becomes one of our greatest ex-presidents. GW Bush, loses in 1992, and went on to be active in a bipartisan way with Clinton post Katrina. Gore lost, became a much, much better communicator, and gets a Nobel Prize.

I think losing on such a big stage like that probably does a few things. It certainly must make you humble, which some of these politicians could certainly use. I think a more important fact might be that it has to be a very liberating thing to lose a big election. You've been working your whole life trying to be president, managing your image, managing your words, and with all that self-control, you still lose? Heck, why not let loose a little and see how that works? Certainly couldn't hurt now, right?

As a result we get people who (after losing) are willing to be more candid, more self-deprecating, more honest, and in some cases more willing to throw a punch, than they were before. I think that's what's going on with John Kerry now, and I hope Obama sees this too and gets him out on the trail more to help out.

Hillary done good

Well, I didn't get to see Hillary's speech last night, but I have read it, and it seems like she did a great job of trying to rally people to Obama. Even if she's been less than sincere about that in recent weeks.

I'd like to see a Hillary-now-McCain supporter on TV (there are a lot of them granting interviews in Denver) respond to this quote from Hillary:

I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?

Fair question, which is it? Do you believe in issues or do you believe in personalities? Reminds me of a question frequently asked in Latin America, are you a nation of laws or a nation of men (um, women)?

Basketball gold medal

First of all, hurray! We won a gold medal in men's basketball that should really just belong to us, sort of like the Statue of Liberty. Countries should have to invade in order to get this away from us.

That being said, I was one of a few who was worried three years ago that what's good for America is bad for Duke. I'm still not convinced that it's otherwise. After the win, here's what one columnist said:

"...Krzyzewski... will be fending off monster contract offers from roughly 28 of the 30 NBA teams. If Coach K can get 12 skillionaire superstars to meld their individual brilliance into a team effort, he has a secret mojo that is priceless."

That is all fine and dandy, but HE ALREADY HAS A JOB! Leave him the *&^%$ alone!