I blogged about the woman question this week and Obama’s theatrics. I agree with you about how theatrical this race has been/become. While I disagree with Palin on most issues, I can’t help but admire a woman who has come this far, with five children in tow, and still seems to have an ego on this planet. McCain’s choice is very sly. It puts liberal women (Clinton supporters, that is), in a very difficult position. To which entity do I owe a greater allegiance: my party or my sex? I don’t think either side will change things much. And Obama isn’t socially liberal enough for me: why does the government (federal or otherwise) get to decide if homosexuals can marry, for instance? While I agree with Clinton’s DNC speech – hey, I wasn’t just voting in this race for you, Hil – I am deeply offended by Obama’s refusal to consider joining forces with her…deeply! His camp refuses to answer questions about this issue. How can he shun 18 million voters one day and claim to be a “uniter” the next?

First, the obvious… She’s a highly telegenic candidate with a personal story that succeeds in broadening the appeal of the McCain candidacy, changing the entire dynamic of the election in the process. It’s a bold move by a tough, seasoned candidate running in the political fight of his life which could, just maybe, give him the extra couple of points he needs in selected venues to to win.

By the way, I was so interested in having McCain include a woman on the ticket, I actually sent him an e-mail recommending just that, and specifically Carly Fiorina, the fomer CEO/Chairman of Hewlett-Packard who is now one of his economic advisors — an all-important area of expertise for any Presidency in which McCain admits to needing help, and so do Obama/Biden, whether or not they’re willing to acknowlege it. (If only Senator Obama could have added a second and maybe a third Vice President to further enhance his resume by proximity, if not in fact.) I thought Fiorina would give McCain a real competitive advantage. Obviously, he has “a short span of attention” (P. Simon) and never read past my first sentence.

So what’s bothering me? The campaign’s becoming political theater, way more so than usual. Senator Obama uses a football stadium to turn his campaign into a bona fide movement. McCain fakes to Minnesota where a prospect there distracts the media by cancelling his interviews with the press, and then goes long, north that is, to Alaska for a running mate who sweeps the Democrats out of the news cycle for the entire holiday weekend. “Give me an ‘M’! Give me a ‘c’! …Sorry, I lost control.

Entertaining, sure, but what does any of it have to do with the ability of either ticket to govern?

So what do you think?

-wf

I’m sure Obama would agree, even though he’s no better. “Change” is not possible without selflessness.

What is it, specifically, that bothers you about Romney? Wouldn’t he do for the McCain campaign on economic and some social issues what Senator Obama is hoping Joe Biden will do for his campaign on matters of foreign policy? -wf

Now, if only McCain picks Mitt Romney (Satan incarnate) to be his running mate…that will make it easier for me to cast my vote for Obama come November.

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