John McCain, Just Who Do You Think You're Kidding?

This Sunday, on Fox News Sunday, with Chris Wallace, John McCain addressed a few issues that are most certainly on the minds of people. In my opinion, it was a glimpse into the mind of a man who wants to lead this nation, and in my own humble opinion, it was a glimpse that did not leave a good taste in my mouth.

First and foremost, he defended his pick of Sarah Palin for the veep slot right out of the box, as one who (not an exact quote) "took on the old bulls in her own party, ran against an incumbent governor in her own party, and stood up against the oil and gas interests within her own state." More on the latter 'achievement' later.

Maybe I've not been listening to him, but for as much as the right has been poking fun at Obama for wanting to change America, now John McCain is out to change Washington. He is touting Sarah Palin as someone who will assist him in that goal. "And I'm so pleased and proud, because this is a person who will help me reform Washington and change the way they do business. And that's what Americans want," he offered. "What this brings is a spirit of reform and change that is vital now to our nation's capital. Eighty-four percent of the American people think this country is on the wrong track. In our own party, we have corruption."

Say it isn't so, Mr. McCain. Corruption within the Republican party?

I think it's clear that the current administration has been on the wrong track, in the opinion of most people of this nation, for all of the past eight years. But lets' also be clear that the vast majority of Americans also want to know a little something about the people who they cast their votes for. To spring this practically unknown woman on the people most likely to vote for the ticket is not only a surprise, it's starting to appear as if we are about to watch an episode of "Dancing With The Stars". And John McCain is looking like he is an expert tap dancer. He's most certainly dancing around the issues on the table, that's for sure.

He went on to address concerns expressed about Sarah Palin's own lack of experience, and his previous attacks leveled by him in regard to a lack of leadership experience by Barack Obama.

"She has got the right judgment. She doesn't think, like Senator Obama does, that Iran is a minor irritant. She knows that the surge worked and succeeded, and she supported that." He goes on to add, "Senator Obama still, still to this day refuses to acknowledge that the surge has succeeded. She has been commander-in-chief of the Alaska Guard, that she has served back and back. In fact, as you know, she has got a son who is getting ready to go."

So let me see if I have this correct. She is ready because she acknowledges that the surge troop level worked, because she considers Iran a threat, because she served in the Alaska State Guard, and because she has a son who is about to be deployed to the middle east? C'mon, there has to be more...right?

"So she has had 12 years of elected office experience, including travel to Kuwait, including being involved in these issues. And Look, I'm so proud that she has displayed the kind of judgment and she has the experience and judgment as an executive. She has run a huge economy up there in the state of Alaska. Twenty percent of our energy comes from the state of Alaska, and energy is obviously one of the key issues for our nation's security."

Okay, there's nothing like inflating one's resume for effect. I seriously doubt that she actually had much to do with the oil and gas industry. And this is a contradiction to what McCain had said earlier. Who exactly is it that she "stood up to", when it came to oil and gas "interests?" She portrays herself as being for expanded drilling in Alaska, and considers theories of man-made global warming to be bunk. So to clarify the issue, she apparently hasn't fought anyone at all. She merely feels that environmentalists are incorrect.

Chris Wallace asked him a pointed question in regard to her experience;

WALLACE: "But, Senator, you talked about her years of experience. Ten of those years were as a city councilwoman and mayor of a town of 9,800 people. And in terms of foreign policy, in March of 2007, after, two months after the surge had started, she was asked about it, and she said: "I've been focused on state government. I haven't focused on the war in Iraq." Understandable for a governor; not understandable for a vice president."

McCain: "Well, by the way, also she was a member of the PTA. I think it's wonderful. But the point is she has been to Kuwait. She has been over there. She has been with her troops, the National Guard that she commands, who had been over there and had the experience. I'm proud of her knowledge of these challenges and issues.

And of course, as governor she has had enormous responsibilities, none of which Senator Obama had. He — when she was in government, he was a community organizer. When she was taking tough positions against her own party, Senator Obama was voting "present" 130 times in the state legislature, on every tough issue whatever it was, while she was taking them on. That's the kind of judgment that I'm confident that we need in Washington."

That's an answer? He might have well have said, "The point is, forget about her lack of national experience. She went to Kuwait once. She visited her troops over there. What else does she need to do to prove herself to the American people? My word should be good enough." For the first time, I'm beginning to see a pattern when John McCain speaks. He categorizes everything he speaks of into two relative subjects. It's either the military or an attack on Obama.

Chris Wallace played an excerpt of Obama's acceptance speech. "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it." After a long winded response, where McCain claims to want everyone's taxes low, and everyone "rich", he dropped the bomb. "He wants to raise taxes." What a wonderful, and broad brushed statement. It's meant to imply that Obama wants to raise taxes on everyone, and that is simply not the case. Obama has been clear in that he only wants to target raising the tax level among those who are well above the poverty line.

What happened next is a revelation into the mindset of John McCain, and how closely he is tied to the Republicans when it comes to their economic policies. Now keep in mind that McCain had already claimed that Obama's raising of taxes would harm an already damaged economy.

WALLACE: "The Democrats pointed out at the convention that you have voted 17 times against raising the minimum wage. They say the only reason you voted for it in 2007 was because it was linked to war funding.

MCCAIN: "Well, the point is that I have voted to keep taxes low and to cut taxes. And Senator Obama has voted to raise them consistently."

WALLACE: "But why have you been against the minimum wage?"

MCCAIN: "Even on people as low as $42,000. I'm for the minimum wage increases when they are not attached to other big-spending pork barrel. The practice in Washington is attach a good thing to a bad thing. And that way, then you have to vote yes or no.

The energy bill, the energy bill had a lot of good things in it, and it billions of dollars of pork and good deals for the oil companies. Senator Obama voted for it. I voted against it, because we've got to start giving people a straight choice.

Now, you watch this September. Harry Reid will say, OK, we'll let you vote on offshore drilling..."

Wallace: "So, you would have been for the increases in the minimum wage, even though you voted against it, I said 17, it was actually 19 times?"

McCain: "Well, or 29 or 49, whatever it is. The fact is that I am for a living wage for all Americans. And I'd like to see them get it. But the key is to get them jobs, and get them the kind of good educational opportunity and affordable health care.

So, I am committed, and my record clearly shows that I've done everything I can to keep their taxes low, to get them available and affordable health insurance, and to secure a good education and give them a choice, not be governed by the teachers' union."

Now I'm used to reading all kinds of political dodges, but this one takes the cake. The question was not a hard one to answer. The charge was simple. McCain had voted 19 times against raising the minimum wage for the lowest paid workers in this country. He clearly doesn't want to explain why he repeatedly voted against raising the minimum wage, but he claims to want to see all Americans receive a living wage? What a lie. And take notice of the attempt to confuse the issue by raising the subject of teacher unions and health care...nothing at all asked about.

If I ever had any inkling that I need to stick to my Republican roots, and consider voting for John McCain, this interview has only reinforced the fact that I am right on target in my estimation of John McCain. He's a rubber stamp of the policies and practices of the current administration, in complete denial of the Republican Party in general, and their dedication to only the elite, and the man cannot even offer an effective dodge to a direct question.

I have no doubt that Chris Wallace let him get away with this, but the time will come when John McCain will appear on a stage to debate Barack Obama, and he will not get by as easily as he did earlier today.

You see, it makes no difference to me if John McCain has more houses to live in, than some in this nation have changes of underwear in their dressers. I don't care what he has in his bank accounts. I don't even care what he pays in taxes. I expect that he has more than most people, in terms of possessions as a politician. But when I read words, uttered from his own lips, that tell me that he is not in touch with what the people of this nation are actually concerned with in regard to their own lives, I have a hard time taking him seriously.

Barack Obama has it indeed right. John McCain, you just don't get it.

And They're Off!!

We now know who will be the sidekicks to their respective Presidential nominees in the race for the White House. Obama's pick, some say is controversial, a mistake, and was only made to assuage fears that he couldn't handle the job. McCain's pick, others say was either a horrible mistake or a stroke of genius, and made to go after the splintered Democratic voters hoping for a Hillary Clinton Presidency.

Regardless of how one views it, the one thing that cannot be denied is that this election will go down in history as one with four unique people who have risen to the top of the consideration pool from almost total obscurity.

Okay, John McCain has been around awhile, but never really garnered serious attention, and wasn't even doing well early in the vetting process and then suddenly emerged the nominee. Joe Biden has been around in the political arena for quite some time, but his fame is contained in Delaware. His own quest for a Presidential bid netted him a very low single digit interest.

Obama made a speech the last time around and immediately talk was born of running him for the top office. Here he is, the nominee of the Democratic Party, and his ascendancy has not only been dramatic, it has been almost impossible to believe and comprehend for many people. He is living proof that anyone can be President in this nation. In my opinion, he likely will be our next President. His pick of Biden, despite past criticism leveled by the man of Obama during the early race for the 2008 election, was in my opinion a stroke of genius.

It's hard to deny that picking Hillary for the veep slot would have brought almost total and instantaneous unity among the Democrats, but it's not hard to understand why that was not done. It might have even insured an easy victory come November. But realistically, Hillary takes a second seat to no one. Her motivation has always been clear. She wants or wanted to be the first female President of the United States. I can easily imagine that should they have paired, and had won, that the woman would have spent the next four years taking every opportunity to seek banks of microphones and cameras to make her bid for 2012. After all, isn't that what she did the minute she won re-election to her Senate seat?

McCain made a very surprise pick of a completely unknown woman, a recently elected Governor of Alaska, who happens to have most of the qualities that most Republicans seek in a candidate, filling in some of the gaps that divide him from others within his party. And of course, tongues have been wagging that this pick, while risky, will bring in protest votes from those who hoped for a Hillary Presidency. Now that's gutsy, if nothing else.

I think he made a big mistake. Let's face it. John McCain, despite his rise to be the nominee, turned 72 the other day. He is near his life expectancy, as averages go. Now the man could live to be 110, but there's no denying that on the minds of some are the fact that he could die while in office, and who will inherit the helm? Sarah Palin. And who is she? Until this past Friday, I had never heard the name uttered by a soul on this planet. She might be everything and then some, that has been presented in regard to her by others, but the thought that the odds are in her favor that she could actually be the President by default, isn't going to sit well with many people.

Hillary's got to be squirming right this very minute. Everything she has hoped for may be dashed if McCain wins, and I'm betting she may well step up talking about health care again, especially that of John McCain. If the woman has a potty mouth as has been alleged by those who worked under her, at the moment that Sarah Palin was announced as McCain's veep pick, I have no doubt that there was a small explosion of words that would have made George Carlin blush (God rest his soul).

This race just changed dramatically. Obama has done a fine job of convincing me that he's ready to lead. I'm still a registered Republican, and if I were to cast my vote today, Obama would get it. I can't help but like the man, despite all that I may personally disagree with politically. I'm not on board with McCain for many reasons, and now I will have to be convinced that his pick for Vice-President, even more obscure a person that Obama was just four years ago, can be fast-tracked in people's minds to assume the duties as President should he pass on. That's a tall order for anyone to achieve in the nine weeks we have left before a nation makes a decision.

It's been an interesting turn of events to get to where we are at this moment. And just when we thought that it could not get any more interesting, it has become even more intriguing. Hollywood could not dream up a plot that would keep people glued to their chairs like this election process has delivered to a nation.

If M. Knight Shyamalan pops up in a cameo in the next few weeks, I'm really going to get nervous, but I'll be excited at the same time, because I know that the climax to this drama will be spectacular and unforgettable.

A Fool And Their Money...Are Soon Parted

We've all heard the adage. The sad thing is that some people, for some reason, never learn that there is some hard evidence behind such sayings.

Every time fuel prices rise, the snake oil salesmen come calling. They roll out all kinds of products, cleverly marketed no doubt, that convince people that buying their product will magically boost fuel mileage. To date, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), not one of the products has attained the status of saving anyone...anything. Those products that actually do boost mileage to any degree, are more than offset by the cost of the product's purchase price.

The latest installment are products marketed to utilize water and electricity to boost fuel mileage. There are many players out there vying for market share, and there are subtle differences in what they are selling, but they are all making outrageous claims as to what you will save in fuel mileage.

It doesn't take an engineer to understand that if these products actually worked, they would be standard equipment on every automobile sold worldwide. Why? Because the simple fact of the matter is that every manufacturer has on staff, Scientists who are attempting to squeeze every mile per gallon and cleaner emissions out of every internal combustion engine they manufacture. It's one of those competitive edges that more often than not, makes up the mind of a buyer to buy a car, and it is also a factor in manufacturing requirements that must be met in some states in order to sell those cars in those states.

If that is not reason enough for you to consider that the sole purpose and design of these kind of products are to convince you to separate yourself from your hard earned cash, consider the fact that there is a one million dollar challenge out there for proof of the veracity of any claim offered in regard to these products.

From the water jugs that were sold in the eighties to draw water into a carburetor, to the magic pills to be dropped in the gas tanks, to the "tornado" air filters, to inline adapters that supposedly remove air from fuel to make it burn cleaner and more efficiently, to these newer "HHO" devices under various names, that supposedly mimic hydrogen fuel cell technology, they are all scams, they make people rich who do not deserve to be rich, and they simply do not work.

The FTC had to create a page to address the issue of fuel saving products marketed to the public, in an attempt to educate people to the foolishness in buying them. The power of the mind is a powerful thing too, in case you didn't know it.

It is a proven fact that if people believe strongly enough in something, it can come to fruition. People can buy these products, install them, and they will actually amend their driving habits, sometimes included in the instructions they receive with the device. It's the change in the driving habits that achieve the savings in fuel mileage, and not the device itself.

There is no secret to saving fuel. All you have to do is to properly inflate your tires and check them on a monthly basis, avoid the jackrabbit starts from traffic lights, and keep your speed even and consistent, utilize your cruise control as much as possible, if your vehicle is equipped with one, and when you are out there on the super slabs, keep your speed at or under 65 miles per hour. Do those simple things, and you will put money in your pocket.

Don't be persuaded by anything you hear or read to put your cash in the pocket of a charlatan.

Another Tragedy, Another Rush To Judgment

This past Thursday in Cincinnati, Ohio, another story surfaced of a tragic and horrible death a child, this time involving a mother, who apparently and inexplicably forgot her 11 month old daughter was in the rear seat of her minivan, drove on to work after dropping of one child at daycare and left the little girl alone in her car seat for eight hours in the mid-summer heat.

It was a horrible death for the child, no question. A Coroner called to the scene released a statement that the child's "hands were balled up in fists and that they were red." No one could read that, and not find good reason to be angry and to want to initially condemn the mother because this child died so helplessly, and who most assuredly cried to her last breath for help that no one heard.

At first glance, it defies all explanation that a mother could forget a child, let alone one who was strapped in her car seat mere minutes prior to being left in the car. At first glance, when these kind of things happen, assumptions are always made, and people want to rush to judgment. I've done so many times myself. The question on my mind, as it was in this case, is always "how can a parent forget their child?"

This woman was not an irresponsible person. She wasn't lugging the child around to have a tryst in the middle of the day with a secret lover. She wasn't seeking a drug fix. She wasn't gambling in a casino, as were factors in other stories similar to this that have popped up across the country.

She was a teaching Professor at a religious institution, who in the course of starting her day, made a horrible and tragic mistake, by changing a morning routine that led to the death of her baby. She has a three year old boy who was dropped off at daycare that morning, but had recently placed the baby girl with another daycare provider. As hard as it may be for some people to understand, in her mind, it is likely that she thought that both children were dropped off at daycare, as was previously the case for what had probably been so for most of those eleven months of her child's life, and she simply did not remember that she needed to make the second stop.

Imagine the horror of going out to your car after completing eight hours of work, and discovering that you forgot your child. I can't imagine what this woman is going through at this very moment. I can't imagine what price she will pay for the rest of her life. But I cannot condemn her. My heart goes out to her and I pray that she will be able to find some way to overcome what will torture her for life, and to be a good mother to her remaining child.

I'm going to put a spin on this that probably no one else will. For years now, our Government and others have pushed putting children in car seats and in rear seats of our cars, because air bags in the front seat area present a danger to children. As far as I know, those air bags in front seats can be disabled. If this little girl had been put in her car seat and in the front seat next to her mother, she would still be alive. I have no doubt whatsoever to this. A sleeping child, out of sight and out of mind, can be forgotten. It's happened too many times to defy ALL explanation.

People are creatures of habit. We function best when we have routines. I have no doubt in my mind that this woman, who made a mistake that most people find unforgivable and unbelievable, is mourning the death of her child. I have no doubt that despite the 911 call that some have found lacking in emotion, that this woman was indeed in shock and had composed herself to be able to make that call.

God be with her, her family, and with all her accusers as well. It's a tough situation. We all deserve a little help at times like this. I already know you are comforting the child who was taken from this earth so tragically.