HONK If You Love John McCain

Make-Believe Maverick : Rolling Stone

On the grounds between the two brick colleges, the chitchat between the scion of four-star admirals and the son of a prizefighter turns to their academic travels; both colleges sponsor a trip abroad for young officers to network with military and political leaders in a distant corner of the globe.

"I'm going to the Middle East," Dramesi says. "Turkey, Kuwait, Lebanon, Iran."

"Why are you going to the Middle East?" McCain asks, dismissively.

"It's a place we're probably going to have some problems," Dramesi says.

"Why? Where are you going to, John?"

"Oh, I'm going to Rio."

"What the hell are you going to Rio for?"

McCain, a married father of three, shrugs.

"I got a better chance of getting laid."

Dramesi, who went on to serve as chief war planner for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and commander of a wing of the Strategic Air Command, was not surprised. "McCain says his life changed while he was in Vietnam, and he is now a different man," Dramesi says today. "But he's still the undisciplined, spoiled brat that he was when he went in."

Cindy McCain: What's She Hiding? Oh, Yeah.

Mark Nickolas' Blog: Cindy McCain's Business Relationship With Charles Keating and Why She Must Disclose Her Finances

CINDY MCCAIN: You know, my husband and I have been married for 28 years and we have filed separate tax returns for 28 years. This is a privacy issue. My husband is the candidate.

QUESTION: You'll never release, you're saying?

CINDY MCCAIN: No

QUESTION: Never?

CINDY MCCAIN: No. No.

QUESTION: Even if you're first lady?

CINDY MCCAIN: No.

QUESTION: Because that is, even though not an elected position, you would be in a very public role.

CINDY MCCAIN: I'm not the candidate.

Only, she has been a primary contributor to her husband's political aspirations. So where do you stand on this? Read the linked story before you decide.

Miscellaneous Ramblings on VP Debate (Biden and Palin)

A few words on the VP debate held last night. First, and least importantly, the candidates looked fabulous.

Now, it's all downhill from here. I've heard both the "left" and "right" talking about who won, who did best, who cleared the bar, where the bar was, etc.

Poppycock.

First off, Sarah Palin did better than I thought she would. She obviously studied. And it showed. This is both good and bad. Good because she didn't get crushed by the Biden intellectual juggernaut. Bad because, well, it looked like she was regurgitating a high school lesson.

Second, Palin came across as condescending. To you, it may have appeared as cool, witty, hip, or something positive, but, for me, she came across as if she thought she was better than Biden.

Third, WTF? The debate started at 8pm, St Louis local time (Central) and lasted for at least 90 minutes (seemed like days). Her family brought her "challenged" baby up. Sure, she he (thanks, Kristen!) was asleep, but why was a baby out at 10pm?

How many "hockey moms" would have their babies out that late at night? Maybe I was just seeing things.

Fourth, WTFsquared! Palin gave a "shout out" to god-only-remembers! This was not a rap performance, nor was it a cheerleading competition! OMG, have we sunk so low that this sort of crap not only is acceptably presidential, but it also resonates with the voting public?

That was too much for me.

But the thing that really got me was her insistence on ignoring every question and turning it into "what I did as mayor, governor, and regulator" or "energy" or "maverick." By my unofficial count, Palin answered one question.

This automatically gets her an "F." Of course, only my opinion. Give me a "shout out" or a "kiss my ass" in the Comments :)

I don't care how great your dissertation is on why the sky is blue if in fact the question was a word problem that started out familiarly: If a train leaves Chicago at 10am...you didn't answer the gosh-darned question!!!

Now, on to Biden. He didn't pounce. He should have cleaned her clock. I thought his breakup when he was talking about being a single dad was touching. It didn't even look scripted, though nowadays, I am so skeptical that it's always the first thing I think.

Finally, Biden's BS about frequenting Home Depot was baloney. He might get out and about (it's well-known and agreed that he rides the Amtrack into and out of DC), but I doubt he does a lot of home improvements. And that's okay with me, just don't try to be Tim "the Toolman" Taylor!