The Debate Rant.

I promised myself I would not get all political in my blog.

But it’s part of who I am.

I was steaming before Ms. (Mrs.?) Palin arrived at her podium. “Can I cal you Joe?” NO! He is Senator Biden. The Senator part of the salutation is a term of respect – R-E-S-P-E-C-T that thirty-five years serving the American people has earned Senator Biden. I immediately began to wonder if in any of the six colleges that Sarah Palin went to (to attain a 4yr degree) she addressed her professors by their first names instead of Dr. or Professor. I noted that the esteemed senator from Delaware addressed Mrs. Palin as Governor. Later in the debate, Governor Palin called Senator Biden “Obiden” – and did not correct herself nor did she apologize for the faux pas. Senator Biden smiled and graciously did not correct her. He did not correct her when she got the General’s name wrong either.

Score respect: Biden 1 Palin 0

The pundits described the governor as “folksy.” Please. Haven’t we been down this road? Wasn’t that George Bush’s selling point? He was a guy you could invite to a barbeque – likely with everyone’s political hero…Joe Six-Pack. I found myself wondering if Joe would be going to an AA meeting before he went to the polls. Is Joe the reason that the incidence of car accidents rises on Election Day? Joe Six-Pack, really? This is not folksy. This is insulting. And what’s with the winking thing? She did it so often I thought she had a tic! It was not cute and endearing. Nor was it sexy. It was annoying and condescending. It said to me – See, I’m cute, I have boobs, vote for me. It was a crime against American Feminism. It was a sexist gimmick. One does not get points for winking. I, in a nightmarish flash, could see Governor Palin winking at say… Sarkozy, or Gordon Brown, or Putin! Of course, before she should be allowed to speak to any of these individuals she should have to have speech therapy to learn to say the word nuclear. It is not “nuke-you-lar” thank you very much.

The Senator from Delaware (35yrs remember?) was accused by the pundits of using Senate-speak, and words that distanced him from the American people. Said pundit used as their example of this the word Amendment. Really? Amendment is a word that distances the American people? It is too intellectual? Senate-speak? Joe Six-Pack should now admit him self to a 28 day program. If Amendment is a word beyond his grasp, he should not be allowed to vote. Senator Biden takes for granted that his audience is intelligent (thank you, Sir). That his audience can follow along with words containing 2 or more syllables. Thank God. I’m ok not being comfortable with the VP at a barbecue – I want him to be comfortable conversing with folks at the UN (who likely are not but so folksy). Senator Biden addressed the camera with integrity and sincerity, not with gimmicks —

Score Professional Presentation: Biden 2 Palin 0

And the Issues. Ok, I get it. Governor Palin, up there in the great state of Alaska, understands energy. Yes, indeedy, Mr. Six-Pack, she does. I am happy for her. Does she understand our failing educational system? Clearly not, teachers get their rewards in Heaven – provided I suppose that they believe in Heaven and not some other sort of afterlife, or no after life at all – which after having been in a high school class room is entirely plausible. Does she understand the healthcare problems faced by Americans? Global warming? –Oh right, global warming isn’t OUR fault! And that pesky little war in Afghanistan? Oh right – it’s Iraq that’s important…

We spend in Iraq in 3 weeks what we have spent in Afghanistan in 7 years. I wonder how much that actually is – and I wonder if we could have gotten Osama Bin Laden five or six years ago if the money had been appropriated to do so. I wonder how many computers and textbooks the surplus would have bought American children – how many doctor visit – new roads… if the money had been appropriated… This I think was one of the Senators most powerful statements: We spend in Iraq in 3 weeks what we have spent in Afghanistan in 7 years. Most of the other issues in our nation could easily be addressed if the current administration had not worked so hard to bankrupt us on a wild goose chase…I guess ifen ya can’t find Oil in Texas ya should go to Iraq. Yes indeed, the past is a prologue (which was an AWESOME line!). And the Senator had, “this is how *I* have voted on this particular issue” to back himself up – Mrs. Palin said, “Well, in Alaska…” because she HAS no national credentials.

Score The Issues: Biden 3 Palin 0

The office of the VP. Like Mr. Cheney, Mrs. Palin does not believe that the office is part of the Executive Branch…This is dangerous. The VP is CLEARLY part of the Executive Branch – as Senator Biden pointed out it’s in the Constitution. You know that little document upon which our whole culture, lifestyle, identity, moral and ethical code is built…yeah let’s just IGNORE that!

Joe Six-Pack should NOT be making decisions – he’s drunk, impaired – and his choices have put us on this road. VOTE FOR CHANGE!