Late Night Diatribes

Last night as I sat down to munch on a carrot (which was a ploy to keep me away from the triscuits, which didn’t end up working, I just ate both) I flipped on the TV.  I had a DVD ready to go and planned on just flipping the video switch when Letterman’s voice caught my attention.

He was tearing into McCain like I’ve never seen anyone torn into before.  Unfortunately, this minute or so blurb doesn’t relay the full rancor of Letterman’s attacks.  It was clear this was a personal issue for him.  He deeply respects John McCain and I think that he is feeling what most independent minded Americans are feeling from McCain: total betrayal through stunning incompetence.

Finding a live feed of McCain getting ready to talk to Katie Couric when he told Letterman he has to “rush back to Washington” was just dumping kerosene all over the inferno.  Dave didn’t let him off the hook all night.

Seeing as late night was on a roll, I stayed tuned in for Craig Ferguson.  I can’t wait for Conan to take Leno’s spot so I can watch Ferguson more often.  His show is completely powered by his personality, an energy source that seems inexhaustible.  Anyway, he had his own fair share of political words for he evening, venting about the bank bail out and McCain’s ridiculous campaign suspension.

Strange times.

Really? Her?

Three cheers for the Economist and once again taking the words right out of my mouth.

This perfectly hits every one of my problems with the Palin selection. Regardless of questions of her experience and ability, what this reveals is how backwards McCain’s team’s thought process functions (if it functions at all).

You HAVE the republican vote. You NEED the independent vote. Who the hell is advising this man? How do you not choose Tom Ridge? Do people really think that Pro-Life republican voters are going to be so angry they’ll vote for pro-choice democrats?

Talk about getting the paradigm wrong. Karl Rove has left in his odious wake the most moronic disciples around. Kind of reminds me of the Monty Python monks chanting and smacking their faces with books.

Political Games

Mr. Timothy Noah of Slate.com recently channeled Kevin Bacon and

invited the public to connect, “six degrees”-style, one or more of the remaining three major presidential candidates to der Führer und Reichskanzler himself, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945).

The result was a veritable seminar in 20th-century American politicians, philanthropists, European royalty, and Nazis. As well as excellent pointers on efficient methodologies in degree-separation model building – including the renowned fortress-hub tactic!

Mr. Noah is joking, of course, but hopefully there will be no rigmarole like that about Mr. Obama’s middle name.

In other news: Chelsea Clinton was recently playing quite different games in Philadelphia and Portland. Like commenter John Curious from San Francisco, I am left wondering

…did somebody try to grab Ed Rendell’s ass, too?

Oh for the halcyon days when the pub was a scene of political discussion and action.

New Election, New Generation, please

I think that Andrew Sullivan has put forth the best reason for support Obama, which he explored at length in a cover story the The Atlantic a few months ago. The babyboomers have been destructive and they have to go. Is the next generation (what are we calling it?) going to fare any better? There’s no guarantee, but it’s hard to imagine it failing any worse.

Famous last words?

Regardless, Hillary and McCain do represent a mentality that has driven this country into the ground culturally and politically. It’s a me-me-me focus that is out of touch with everyone who isn’t just like me-me-me. Instead of thinking forward, it’s mired in a fantasy present that the activism of the 60s didn’t deliver and the poll-based-politics of today continue to imagine. It seems to me like a parent who, failing during the crucial years and watching his or her children spin off the deep in their teen years has decided to forcibly re-enter the scene in their 20s and tell them to open up so the airplane can deliver its cargo of applesauce.

We don’t need to be fed anymore, and that’s the bottom line. It’s time we start cooking.

…that being said, I have a feeling somebody that survived North Vietnamese torture camps can probably cook a hearty meal on a low budget.