So here we are now in Canada. We loaded up the van in California with as many of our possession as would fit and the kids sat like living corpses in their traveling coffins while we drove the 1295 miles from Sacramento to Magrath. The drive from Monida pass (Idaho-Montana border) to Helena still feels like traveling across the top of the world. A man feels small underneath that enormous sky.
The Strate-palooza has gone well despite my repeated attempts to disfigure myself. As soon as we arrived Meg was anxious to ride grandpa's horses, but unfortunately the riding equipment was not made for a man of my tremendous girth. (Mmmmm....girthy.) Only five minutes into the ride our horse made a unexpected turn, the saddle strap broke, and I ended up on my back with Meg on top of me. Conventional widsom says that when you fall off a horse, you need to get right back on it again. Well, screw conventional wisdom. The next time Meg rides I'll be walking in front of her with the reins in my hand. (Is it bad form to punch a horse in the face?)
The second day we were here was the opening day of the Magrath softball tournament. After scorching a double into left-center I got caught in a run-down between second and third. I somehow managed to fall on my face, tearing a hole in my sweats, and an even larger hole in my knee. The only thing that hurts more than the injury is the constant reminders from relatives, "Hey Shane...remember how there was no one even around you at third and you still face-planted?"
But the most painful aspect of all has been the coverage of the Obama campaign. Even here north of the border Obama's European tour is the top story. I think that most of us can safely say we have never seen a Presidential candidate like this in our lifetime. The National Review crowd is rightly deriding him for acting like he is already President (you want to speak at Brandenburg gate....seriously?) but why should he not? The world and especially the press has so little regard for Bush and fawns over Barack like a baby deer, the man is just acting the part.
And finally the though occurred to me - what if he doesn't win? I realize that this is a remoted possibility. The media has already handed him the election, he is leading in key swing states, there is not conceivable scenario in which he could not beat a tired, uninspiring, war-monger like John McCain. But what if he doesn't? The shock of a McCain victory would dwarf the 'Dewey defeats Truman' election as the biggest upset in American history.
This is why I think America is almost trapped into voting for Obama. He is inexperienced, ill-informed, and incredibly self-obsessed. But if he loses, the media will demand to know why. They will spend weeks and months analyzing how it was possible for a young, articulate, energetic, inspiring candidate could possibly be defeated given the unpopularity of the war and the state of the economy.
It's not difficult to imagine the conclusion they will offer.
12 comments:
wow! Are you and Ang fighting over the computer, who gets to blog first??? Or have you guys worked out a schedule?how fun!
Us socialist countries love Obama. It Makes us feel better about our smug selves.
It's not unusual for this kind of press coverage. Ask Brangelia. They have about the same substance. Plus I am sure the big 3 were already over there covering the Miracle babies anyway.
I see that you and McCain are gearing up for the "blame the media" campaign. Nice to know that you're in lock-step with him. You know, with Fox News and ALL of the AM dial, it's a wonder that conservatives seem to have zero media exposure (at least according to them).
OADN, Diana still reminisces fondly about the time you all went horseback riding while at Ricks. She'll be heart broken to hear that your mad cowboy skillz have faded. :)
I would love to be an Obamaniac and be able to dismiss every criticism by attributing it to the Bush-McCain warmongering, or the politics of fear, or an atmosphere of intolerance.
For year the left has told us that it was patriotic to criticize our leaders. We need to hold them accountable. But now that The One is running for office all criticism suddenly stems from jealously and petty politics. Obama really is more a symbol than a Presidential candidate. How do you debate a symbol?
I think I'd like you better if you could hit a grand slam.
Don't you know that real men don't wear sweats when they play softball? Even Morg knows that apparently...
Is that a picture of Morg laughing as you get injured?
"How do you debate a symbol?"
Umm, on the issues? But you're right, it's more fun just to complain about MSNBC.
Criticize Obama all you like. But take issue with his plans for healthcare, or for Iraq, or for the economy. You're criticizing the media, not Obama. But, if you read more than NRO, you'd know that Obama took a beating in the "liberal" media for several "centrist" moves he made recently. If Maureen Dowd can bring herself to criticize Obama, surely the editors here at 301NIC will afford you the same journalistic freedom.
You also seem to dismiss the fact that Bush has one of the lowest approval ratings of any president in history. If McCain loses it will be because of the Bush anchor around his neck, not the media's love affair with Obama.
"Lowest approval rating of any president??"
Every time I hear that I want to gouge my eyes out.(sorry Porter.. we haven't even met) That is the most ridiculous thing ever repeated, and I hear it soooo often. If I wanted to sink the next GOP candidate, thats the line I'd keep repeating. It is impossible to compare his approval rating, we live in a era of everyones an expert, we used to depend on the opinions and knowledge of others,but mostly people were uninformed due to the lack of the internet, talk radio, and 24hour News stations, and the average Joe hears Bush being made fun of every night on Leno/Letterman. And now everyone has a blog.I am sure if either Nixon Carter or Clinton reigned supreme in 2007/2008 their approval rating wouldn't be much higher.
John McCain is the OLDEST person ever(running for President) and then he shows up with a band-aid on his face. He is Non Repentant about the War, and takes all the credit for the Surge.
Here is why Obama shouldn't be president:
1)He won't say the Surge is working
2)Economic Justice
3)campaign finance
4)Supports High Gas Prices
5)Freedom of Choice Act(government Funded)
6)Cutting Abstinence Programs, teaching Kindergarten's Sex Ed
7)wants to renegotiate free trade
agreements
8)Can't decide what to do with Iran
I could go on, and on, and on...but I'll stop.
Anne, I applaud you. You are the first person on this blog to criticize Obama's position on the issues instead of his personality. I agree with you that Obama has many policies that are questionable. But on the two key items in this campaign, the economy and the war in Iraq, I still feel Obama has the upper hand. Yes, the surge has produced good results, about which I'm very happy. But it would have been better never to have played kingmaker in the first place. Regarding the economy, Phil Gramm and Co. have done nothing to demonstrate that McCain would do anything other than what Bush did for eight years. Great for countries that export oil to the US (like Canada), not so much for the rest of us.
I might add that I pointed out Bush's low approval rating only to say that it will likely be a negative factor in McCain's candidacy. Whether it is justified or not I leave to future history professors (like Shane!! Maybe Bush's legacy is saved!).
I think both Obama & McCain have serious policy issues.
I was listening to Talk radio yesterday, and some are convinced that Obama needs the War to fail. It's the only way that he will be able to continue on his "judgement" credentials. Which they say is why he won't give any credit for the Surge. He needs it to fail. I am not convinced he would be so free with American soldiers lives, for political gain. But I thought that was an interesting thought, McCain need the Surge to Succeed, Obama needs it to fail.
Which by the Way I would no sooner vote for Obama for opposing the war, than I would vote for McCain because he was A POW, neither qualify them.
With all that is working against McCain(Bush,the War, his Seemingly anxious to bomb Iran, His Blatant "I'd Invade Iraq again" attitude, our non confidence in his handling the economy, How is it that in Recent Polls McCain is competitive with Obama??
I think your point that I don't talk about Obama's positions is spot on. To be honest, his positions are not that interesting. I don't think he contributes anything useful to the major debates in this country. Also, his position keep changing and it's hard to hit a moving target. See if you remember these statement:
"I will accept matching funds"
"I won't turn my back on my minister.
"We should pull troops out of Iraq immediately - but increase them in Afghanistan." (Huh?)
"I will meet unconditionally with Iranian leaders."
Let's face it, no one really listens to what Obama says - they only pay attention to HOW he says it. As a discourse historian this is what I find fascinating. The Messiah overtones. The grandiose speeches in historic locations.
The country wants to imagine Obama as their ideal post-race, post-nationalist, post-colonial, (dare I say - post-modern?) candidate. Why let silly things like details spoil the dream?
Health care? The economy? Leaving Iraq? No, no, don't talk about those. Better to focus on a man's religion and crucify him for that than actually look at details. You know, for a Canadian, you sure do American politics well.
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