The Hate-Talk Express – Is This Really the Way You Want to Go Out, Senator McCain?

Dear Senator McCain,One way or another, you reach an end on November 4th. We do know that for certain, even though no one can say what kind of end it will be – whether the road takes you to the Oval Office or to the finish of your long-held ambition to be President. But one thing has ended already: your integrity, and any protestations that your campaign isn’t as racist and hate-ridden as … [Read more...]

The Subliminal Slam-Dunk

I was going to start out by calling the second Presidential Candidates’ Debate between Barack Obama and John McCain a “running out the clock” affair for Obama. Basically a draw - no big wins or losses, with an edge to Obama because he didn’t give up any ground and McCain didn’t gain any. … [Read more...]

Advantage Biden

I had help with this one. I watched Joe Biden and Sarah Palin square off, on CNN, specifically for that network’s audience meters. In this case, it was a group of undecided voters in Ohio, both men and women. What was revealing to me was how the audience reaction dovetailed with my own. … [Read more...]

The Ole Miss Debate: Whose Opening Advantage?

I’m mixed.Who won? They both did. And didn’t.Here’s what strikes me about the opening round of presidential debate season: the one-liners, the facts (or not), the jabs, the international names and one mispronunciation, the energy, and the eye contact. Or in McCain’s case, the lack thereof. Among other things.I think John McCain won most of the buzz phrase battles at the first … [Read more...]

Sarah Palin Lipschtick and Pigs

by Mary Lyon --Amazing what a difference a week makes.Something has changed since Sarah Palin burst into the Republican Convention and started living it up by the stiletto. It still stings to look back over her mean-spirited, scornful, barb-laden speech. Whoever once said sticks and stones might hurt but names would not, has obviously never met the new Republican Annie Oakley wannabe. But … [Read more...]

Trying To Make Nice

By Mary Lyon --Dear Senator McCain: Well, gee, look at you, ‘eh? Have we finally met the “kinder, gentler” Republican that Republicans have been teasing us with for 20 years now? And why is my first instinct still to pull away? Maybe because it’s a Republican talking. Pure and simple. Perhaps you’ve heard the joke about what’s actually going on when a Republican’s lips are … [Read more...]

Republicans Are Mean

I sat through Rudy Giuliani and the debut of Sarah Palin – and I’ve come to only one conclusion. Republicans are mean. No whining here. I’m no Phil Gramm. Just an objective statement of fact based on first-person observation. Nasty. Snarky. Mocking. Sarcastic. Punch you in the nose first and then laugh at you because your face is full of blood and you look kinda funny now. And then kick you … [Read more...]

A Connection of Disconnects

One certainly can’t say that the Republican Convention doesn’t bring divergent individuals together. Sometimes, they’re the strangest of strange convention bedfellows. … [Read more...]

Hurricane Sarah Palin

The Look-Before-You-Leap presidential campaign is at it again: “Do as I say, not as I do.” It amuses and confuses me as I watch the Republican Party writhe and wriggle around in the mud. It’s not so much the Gulf Coast hurricane wreckage in which they’re mired, but in the dialogue (and probably their own wobbly and now-questionable convictions) that they’re trying to manipulate about … [Read more...]

Cue Lloyd Bentsen

John McCain Sarah Palin

Where is Lloyd Bentsen when we need him? The distinguished Texas Democratic Senator, who died two years ago, probably would be rolling over in his grave to see what’s happening now. More than actually rolling over, I imagine he’d be trying to find a way to tunnel himself out to settle another political-presumption score. Dan Quayle: I have far more experience than many others that sought the … [Read more...]

The Mile-High Milestone: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered in Denver

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A signature Stevie Wonder hit struck the perfect introductory note for this historic evening: “Signed Sealed and Delivered.” And we were. So was Barack Obama. … [Read more...]

Is This the Day America Started Growing Up?

An awful lot of childish behavior has been on parade on the campaign trail this year. Well, yeah, pretty much every campaign season we see that, but this year has seemed even more juvenile than usual. Are we getting beyond that, at long last? Did we just take a big step?There’s one way in which we certainly should be trying to grow up as a nation: It’s long past time for us to get over the … [Read more...]

Hillary Clinton Wore Gold and She Was Golden

All the blue and white “Unity” signs didn’t make nearly as vivid an impression as did the Lady in Gold on Night Number Two in Denver. Hillary Clinton Night at the Democratic Convention was actually the first night we’ve seen any real red meat served up in prime time. And no woman in there was a vegetarian on this night. Neither were the men present, of course, but Hillary Clinton’s … [Read more...]

Tears and Bookends – Day 1 of the Democratic Convention

by Mary Lyon --What a great opening night! And what an historic journey the Democratic National Convention highlighted in its kickoff. It was a night of Great Democratic Bookends. … [Read more...]

A Noun, A Verb, and P.O.W.

by Mary Lyon --Joe Biden is already a pretty effective giant-killer, and he may just have killed another giant – a giant bummer among Democratic partisans concerned about the backbone of their party. Biden’s the guy who yanked the teeth and claws out of Rudy Giuliani last October 30th, during one of the Democratic primary debates. … [Read more...]