10 Things to Think About on a Friday

Here we are...just as I promised last Friday, in October. And, quite frankly, I'm torn today on how to handle the 10 things as I was seriously considering just looking at last night's Vice Presidential debate, as I have a lot to say about that as well. I decided to do the 10 things for those that love them, and then rant about the debate for anyone who has the time and patience to read it. Bansai!

1) As if our National financial crisis wasn't enough, now we have a California crisis. And if we're asking for 7 billion dollars from the National Treasury, there goes any hope we had of detaching ourselves from the union.

2) Just when I was concerned about getting an infectious disease from a public toilet seat, I find out I have nothing to fear, except, of course, the rest of the bathroom.

3) I get a little nervous in elevators that go up 100 floors in a building, so how would you feel in an elevator going up 100,000 floors into space?

4) Flying has gotten very bad since 9/11. What's worse is the idea that by not allowing water bottles, hair gel, Jell-o and large bottles of shampoo, we're helping to make the skies we fly safer. This artist in his provocative anti-TSA art has the right idea about civil disobedience.

5) I love The Thomas Crown Affair, and I'm a big fan of Craigslist. So what's better than a man using Craigslist to hire decoys to help him rob a bank and escape in an innertube?!

6) Both myself and my students were shocked on Wednesday night when Clark became the latest girl to get the boot on America's Next Top Model. Here's what she had to say about getting dropped the week after being number 1, and of course, kissing Elina.

7) I'm pretty sure I speak for almost everyone outside of the Bible thumpers when I say sex is a great thing. But I can honestly say that I would never shoot myself in the arm just because I didn't get it.

8) While DRM music and iTunes may not be safe from royalty rate hikes forever, they appear to be in the clear for now.

9) The professional demeanor, the power suits, the glasses. While I don't think she has what it takes to be Vice President, that doesn't mean I'm not attracted. I think this is partially what Larry Flynt was betting on when he made a porn with a Sarah Palin lookalike. What about a movie about Sarah Palin? Here's 10 celebrities that could play her.

10) And now for the debate...I'm getting real sick, real fast hearing that Sarah Palin and her "down-to-earth" and from her own mouth, "Joe Six-Pack" approach is what our government needs right now. She's attempting to appeal to the broadest base of Americans, and what makes me even more scared is that I bet a lot of "average" Americans, particularly those in the fly-over states still living in 1950, are buying into it. In terms of international reputation, economic status, and the multiple wars we've managed to engage our country in, a common and average vice president who could become president is exactly what we don't need. In case people have forgotten, we voted for the guy you could have a beer with back in 2000 and look where we are now.

The crisis that we're in throughout our government and country at this moment is going to take more than just a promise of change from a long time Republican Senator. It's going to take more than "Main Street," close-minded thinking from an Alaskan Governor. Hell, it'll probably take more than the energetic and experienced team of Obama/Biden can provide, but at least it's closer to the realm of possibilities. Sarah Palin talks about family values, but has a pregnant out of wedlock teenage daughter. McCain likes to talk about being the voice for change, but what about his record, especially recently, demonstrates that?

But are they willing to debate the facts? Not likely. During the debate last night, as Biden was speaking about McCain's record and laying out fact after fact about prior history, Palin's only response was to not look at the past, and when that didn't work, she fell comfortably into one of several soundbites the Republican party has adopted for this campaign. I've noticed a few of these more than others...

A) They love talking about Obama not supporting a troop funding bill, and continue to throw that out there without wanting to talk about the reason for the rejection (lack of a timetable), or comparing it to McCain's similarly negative vote on a bill with a timetable. Neither of them voted against funding the troops, they just voted against what they saw as detrimental timelines or lack thereof.

B) If I hear the "we're mavericks coming to Washington" line one more time, I'm going to scream. The only maverick I know was in Top Gun in the 80s and he was played by Tom Cruise. I think Biden said it right last night when he pointed out all the Bush issues that McCain absolutely was not a maverick on. Something about a 70 year old white man that has been in Washington as long as McCain has just doesn't say maverick to me.

C) Palin last night outright refused to answer a debate question, saying basically that she was a maverick and didn't do what Washington wanted and didn't care if they didn't like the way she was answering (or not answering) the questions. Um, you're in a debate to be vice president of the United States, and you won't answer the questions? What would she do as President if asked the tough questions? What's worse is that every time she avoided a question, she simply fell back on another soundbite. That's not a debate, that's evasion, and what's sad is that I have to wonder just how many people watching the debate actually realized what she was doing, and how many of them heard a party line come out and went, "Yea, you tell him Sarah!"

D) Sarah has one personality trait that annoys me more than most. If you've watched the debate, you've no doubt become accustomed to her shit-eating smile as she tackles a difficult question in a less than satisfactory manner. It's almost like saying, "I'm smiling America, and I'm going to straight talk you, even if I'm not actually straight talking, but by God, we're both Americans, so check me out!" That smile is unfortunately very crowd friendly, and makes her seem quite accessible, if you happen to be among the people who can watch her without hearing a single thing she says.

E) I think Obama/Biden missed a golden opportunity yesterday to attack Palin's lack of experience. I think a significant amount of time on Biden's part should have been dedicated to emphasizing his experience and her lack. It should have gone to talking about what the country would face if he were to become President, and how that would differ from her taking over. Instead, he spent most of his time attacking McCain, which I think let her slide a bit on the fact that when she opens her mouth, she's simply not ready to be President.

F) Hockey moms and Joe Six-Packs may be the majority of our country, as she pointed out last night, but that doesn't mean we need them running our government. We've seen where that's gotten us with, as one commentator last night called him, "George 12 pack," and it should serve as a wake-up call to all Americans, regardless of party affiliation...It shouldn't matter if the candidate is Republican or Democrat if there's a clear and distinct different in intelligence and ability. When looking at McCain vs. Bush, there's no question that McCain is a big step up. But when you compare McCain with Obama, the choice is far less clear. Throw into that mixture the contrast between Biden and Palin, and I think that anyone who votes for the McCain/Palin ticket is failing, as their party wants you to believe, to put "Country First," and is focusing too much on party first. When compared side by side, the idea that McCain and someone as inexperienced as Palin are a suitable choice for our country at the moment is absurdly sad.

G) Pundits today are saying that while Biden was the victor in last night's debate, Palin raised her stock in the eyes of many. Um, when the expectation is 0, even a 1 is a substantial raise. People came in expecting her to flounder and crack in front of Biden. When she didn't, it was viewed as a huge coup, despite the fact that she dodged questions, took cheap shots with inaccurate facts at opponents and lauded Dick Cheney for his interpretation of the office of Vice President. Are we asleep at the wheel here America, or is this type of behavior not exactly what we've been trying to get away from? Just because she didn't come off as an ignorant "whiteneck" out of the hills of Alaska doesn't mean that she is capable and competent to run our country. Can you imagine where we would be if we handed the entire government over to hockey and soccer moms? I find the idea fantastically depressing.

But, as my friend Melissa has told me, "there's nothing more uncommon than common sense," and if 2004 is any indication, Republicans are going to vote Republican even if the candidate is a sad disgrace to our country. I guess, with a month to the election, you can only hold your breath and hope. Or, you can go here and make her say what you want her to say!