Obama is NOT Charismatic

I don't get it. I'm seeing the same speeches as everyone else, and yet, I just don't perceive Obama as a charismatic individual. When he talks, he is somewhat persuasive, but bland - very bland - to the point of sending me to Drowsyland.

Am I so out of step with things that I fail to recognize an extraordinary, even messianic leader?

Nah. I've heard truly inspiring, engaging speakers before. Pope John Paul II, in the early years of his pontificate. Martin Luther King. Heck, even James Carville has a certain something - he is passionate in his convictions, and it shows. You feel drawn to him, even though you detest his politics. Probably accounts for his happy marriage to a dedicated conservative.

Obama is overly measured and cool. Kind of John Kerry, without the accent or goofy overstatements.

Perhaps what observers see is an aura of mystery - probably from the disinclination to talk much about himself. There are MAJOR chunks of his life that we know nothing about - his years at Occidental, his associations at Columbia, his travels, his academic funding.

At least he's overcome his "Flagophobia".



Check out the earrings on this supporter - the juxtaposition of Obama & MLK - fittingly, Obama is to the LEFT of MLK.




Of course, it helps that the media is completely in the tank for the O. Why else would he be so appealingly framed in this shot - it should be captioned "Ascending to Heaven".



In contrast, John McCain is generally photographed in unflattering light, emphasizing all the wrinkles he's earned. In the photo below, even his quite attractive wife looks bad.




Look at this photo, from a rally in an airplane hanger. The cropping puts his partly unbuttoned jacket squarely in the center of the frame, with wrinkled pants below. You can barely see his head, which looks ill-proportioned compared to a Baby Huey-type body.

The photographer had to work hard to make him look this bad. It's yet another form of media bias.



This is almost Nixonian.

Will Obama Be Audited for Campaign Finance Violations?

Surely you jest!

According to this article from the Washington Post, not bloody likely.

Both parties have filed formal complaints calling on the agency to investigate their rival. Only McCain will automatically be subjected to an audit, because his campaign accepted funds from the Treasury. There is no requirement that Obama's books be audited, and FEC-watchers predicted that it could be tough to find the four votes needed to approve an audit, given that the panel comprises three Republican and three Democratic appointees.

But, of course, in the interests of bipartisanship, which Democrats are so noted for displaying, I'm confident that the required fourth person will step up to the plate, and investigate The Anointed One.

Hugh Hewitt Explains it All to You

Whew!

Hugh Hewitt is on fire!

He makes the most straightforward case for John McCain, and why he should be elected. He is unsparing in his disdain for what the Democratic Party has become.

Obama is a wholly untested Illinois state senator with less than 200 actual days on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Obama has never run anything or faced any significant political crisis in his life requiring the expert exercise of wisdom and judgment, much less this perfect storm of crises.

Obama's rise has been because of machine politics and hard-left coalitions, and his past is checkered with the most radical and the most corrupt sort of characters imaginable --Ayers, Rezko and Wright to name just the big three.

His party is led by hard-left partisans in the House and Senate, and the "grassroots" manning his campaign and ready to demand their patronage jobs are of the Michael Moore-Daily Kos variety. There is hardly anything left of the old Democratic Party. It isn't about a New Deal or a Fair Deal or a New Frontier. It is about radical change, and creepy children singing praises to their leader. It is about a thorough-going contempt of ordinary Americans best expressed in Obama's own description of the bitter God-and-gun clinging small town and rural voters of Pennsylvania.

And, that's just the mild stuff. Go check it out for yourself.

Slo-Mo Day

I'm lounging around this morning, thoroughly enjoying NOT having to get up early.

I'm on my own this morning - DH is in Cleveland, visiting his doctor. As the air fare was too much (more than $350, one way), I opted to stay in SC by myself. While I enjoy the company most of the time, every once in a while, it's fun to give in to total selfishness, and eat what I want, sleep when I want, and, generally, do anything I please.

One thing I enjoy is NOT having the TV on. On my own, I either have nothing, or some jazz on the radio (often Internet radio - I'm especially fond of the Pandora station). I have my own stations - Billie Holliday, Miles Davis, and Jazz Fusion.

I've been reading Ari Kaufman of the Pajamas Media, who is analyzing the chances of the swing states swinging for Obama. I was struck by a phrasing I've noticed in many commentators, on TV, radio, newspaper, and Internet: he talks about Obama, but then uses the phrase McCain/Palin.

Think about it - Palin is considered influential enough to be an integral part of the ticket, mentioned in one breath. So, Obama, as planned by McCain, is running against 2 people - no wonder he looks tired lately.

Has anyone noticed they almost never mention Biden the same way?

Wickedly Funny "BarackBook" Parody

I found this via PowerLine.

It's a wickedly funny parody of a Facebook page, but for Barack Obama. I imagine he'll be steamed.

Look for them to retaliate with a McCainBook page.

Hello, Dali!

From Charles Martin at Pajamas Media:

Given the chance to support American soldiers, and no photo op, Obama said, “not worth the trouble.” McCain, given the chance to meet with the leader of millions of oppressed people, goes out of his way, even though the visit is unlikely to win him much goodwill, much less any votes.

And that’s not news. But it should be.

McCain's Rocky Moment

The Money Line:

Senator Obama told the American people what he thought you wanted to hear. I told you the truth.

With 3 months to go, McCain is making his move. The momentum could be in his favor.

The only down side is that Obama may pull a last-minute save, by selecting Hillary as his running mate. It would be hard to beat those demographics, and the Independent and Undecided voters might break Obama's way.

You Go, Boy!

Larry Kudlow, at National Review, has a post lauding McCain's position on shoring up Fannie & Freddie - McCain is against the practice of bailing out non-government instititions who screw up:

Americans should be outraged at the latest sweetheart deal in Washington. Congress will put U.S. taxpayers on the hook for potentially hundreds of billions of dollars to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It's a tribute to what these two institutions — which most Americans have never heard of — have bought with more than $170-million worth of lobbyists in the past decade.

This is vintage McCain.

We are stuck with the reality that they have grown so large that we must support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the current rough spell. But if a dime of taxpayer money ends up being directly invested, the management and the board should immediately be replaced, multimillion dollar salaries should be cut, and bonuses and other compensation should be eliminated. They should cease all lobbying activities and drop all payments to outside lobbyists. And taxpayers should be first in line for any repayments.

Amen, brother, amen.

Oh, Obama? THAT'S what a PRESIDENT sounds like. Decisive. Unafraid of the consequences.

Yet Another Conde Nast(y) Satirical Cover

It looks like the parent publisher is running scared.

The "McCain" spouse cover makes fun of John's age (can't imagine that will hurt him with the likeliest voters), and Cindy's pain killer addiction.

I'm betting this is an attempt to deflect criticism for the New Yorker ("we're just having good fun with ALL the candidates") cover of the Obamas.

Click this link to judge for yourself - I think the cover's humor is kinda lame.

Egad! Obama's Staff is Growing Like an Invading Space Alien!

I knew that Obama had more money - considerably more - than McCain. What I didn't realize is that he planned to spend it all, as soon as possible, leading to a growth industry - the Obama Monster That Ate Pittsburgh!



If this is a preview of what we can expect for the federal budget - anytime there's a problem, throw money at it - we're in a lot of trouble if he wins.

Which is by no means a surety.

Who's Ahead? Obama, But Undecided is Moving Up Fast

The MSM is portraying Obama as a virtual slam-dunk winner, but the uncooperative voting public isn't playing along.



This week, several people, staunch Democrats, came up to me and confided their unease with Barack Obama in the presidential slot. The word that came up repeatedly was "inexperienced". Few voters feel comfortable with the prospect of a rookie in the White House. Obama's thin resume isn't reassuring them.

Barack is Broke - IF You Believe This Video

This is priceless! Barack is asking for even more money - because John McCain (and the Shadowy group behind him) are so loaded.

Here's the text copy of the video appeal from David Plouffe.

I checked - the RNC, in fact, has more money than the DNC. It appears that Barack burnt through much of the money he raised so far (via The Moderate Voice.

Based on the numbers so far, the Republican Party appears poised to act as the financial equalizer in the fall campaign. The RNC disclosed that it ended May with $53.5 million in the bank, compared to $3.9 million for the Democratic National Committee, which is headed by Howard Dean.

McCain, an Arizona senator, had $31.6 million as of May 31, compared with $33.3 million for Obama, Federal Election Commission records show. The RNC had $53.5 million to just under $4 million for the Democrats. The party committees act as shadow campaigns, concentrating their efforts on backing the presidential candidates.

Don't get over-confident - the RNC and McCain can still use your donations.

McCain & the Age Issue

The Obama campaign is playing hardball with Joh McCain.

They are suggesting that age is making him not capable of the job.



The AP quotes the McCain campaign's response:



McCain's campaign admits that some may be concerned about his age, and for that reason, his choice of a VP is critical. But, that's true of EVERY presidential candidate - no matter how young (remember JFK?), presidents may not survive their term.

I just checked on iGoogle - how come the same people that think John McCain is too old at 71 have no problem with Ralph Nader - age 74?

I tested out both men with the Death Clock

John McCain - height 5' 7" - weight 160 - non-smoker

Predicted date of death - Monday, August 22, 2033 - in an optimistic mode

Barack Obama - height 6' 1/2" - weight - smoker (yeah, I know he has said he's quit, but I know that he's also been caught recently)

Predicted date of death - Wednesday, October 31, 2040 - also in an optimistic mode

The difference isn't that great - and, for both, it's long after their term of office would be over.

Using Surrogates to Fight His Battles

This isn't the first time Obama has used others to attack his opponents; first Hillary, now McCain.