The Sarah Palin Uproar

Lately, all the political media buzz is about VP candidate Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. A much hyped "maverick of reform", Palin is being touted by the GOP as a squeaky-clean, fresh faced, agent of change within the Republican Party.

Unfortunately, she's also a walking target for SNL punchlines and mockery. Part-time political pundits slash "comedians" like Bill Mahr see Palin as a joke. Her kooky Alaskan accent coupled with a few bimbo-ish responses during a Katie Couric interview have catapulted Palin to the forefront of political mockery and ridicule.

Even more interesting still, about this aspect of the campaign, is that all negative attention on the presidential election has now been focused on the least important person. In what many call the most dynamic and important election in over a generation, a nobody VP candidate has stolen the spotlight from the rock star liberal who may be the first African-American ever elected President, and the most famous Vietnam War vet in the country.

This mother, of what could probably be best defined as a litter of children and one grandchild on the way, with no foreign policy experience and absolutely no big government credentials, has literally stolen the show and possibly the election for the Republican party. How you say? Not so much as she's winning it for the GOP as, she has become a Kevlar vest for a very exposed and flawed Presidential candidate. While everyone has been critiquing her hair and glasses, McCain has seemingly skated through the early stages of a race he was destined to lose.

Fortunately for the Democrats, Hillary is patiently sitting on the sidelines silently campaigning for 2012.

Signing off,

~Charles Drengberg

Pulpit Pandering

Growing up in middle-of-nowhere Ohio, I had some great opportunities to experience several very different church environments, in great part due to my one of my best friends having two uncles as Catholic priests that frequently visited other churches in the community. Raised in what I guess is called a Bretheren Church, I was used to a more relaxed type of worship. The pastor often spoke of everyday issues families faced, the children were told the typical Bible stories, and everyone was very loving and positive making Sundays a refreshing start to the week upon us. On the weekends I would stay the night @ my friend Sean's house, usually to play video games and eat junk food into the early morning, part of the deal was that I had to go to Church with them in the morning. So I'd throw on some Dockers and a collared shirt and drag myself into Sunday Mass, which to me was very foreign. There was kneeling, chants, rehearsed responses, and lots of new people to watch. I didnt mind it much though because it usually only last an hour or so unlike our church which sometimes went 2-3 hours.

On special weekends, Sean's uncle, Father Larry, would take us to other churches sometimes. One in particular was a Baptist Church in what everyone in our town called "the ghetto". Of course being of the fairer persuasion alot of the black kids I knew from school looked at me like I was lost, but quickly realized we were all there for the same reason. They had a wild gospel band and everyone seemed far more energized and animated than other churches I had been to. This was actually a blast to be around. That was one of my very few experiences of a "black church."

Now, there's YouTube, Rev. Wright, and Father Flager. These images and sound clips have been ringing through the talk radio stations for the past 2 months, and I'm starting to wonder, how many other churches sound like Trinity Church in Chicago. How can we be told not to judge Obama on what the preachers in his church of 20 years are screaming into a pulpit? Who are these nutjobs in the congregation applauding? Is this what church is about now? Political rhetoric and conspiracy theories? Why aren't people out protesting in front of that church? I'm pretty sure if Bush's pastor was recorded saying things like this everyone would be in an uproar!

I'm clearly not voting for Obama anyway, and I personally think his campaign has been a complete mess, but I do want some attention brought to the fact that this guy is the best the Democrats have to offer. A man who sat in a church like that for 20 years married to a woman who speaks as if America has been so hard on her throughout her life.

I'm no fan of John McCain, but I would vote for anyone marched out there before I vote for someone like Obama. He can thank his worthless church for that. (along with pretty much every political view he claims to be committed to.)

When did it become acceptable to bash America with complete disdain? And who decided that church was the appropriate place to do so? Opposition to government should be constructive criticism, not blind hatred. If these people hate America so much, they can go to Mexico. I'd be willing to grant amnesty to people that love this country just to get rid of those who hate it.

Ooops, He Did It Again!

This year's presidential election is arguably one of the most important elections in the past several decades, and with the Republican candidate chosen long ago the Democrats have seized their race as an amazing opportunity to embarass themselves and expose every weakness they have while McCain sits at home laughing at the headlines. Now, I'm not a big fan of John McCain, but i absolutely despise both of the Democratic nominees this year, in large part because i hate feeling like I'm being lied to constantly.
In the past few days a secret recording of Obama in a meeting with San Fran's key political financial backers, was heard saying this of Pennsylvania's working-class voters;

“It’s not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment. . . .”

In short, he considers anyone not supporting him in Pennsylvania, bitter, gun-toting bible thumping racists. Good idea buddy. Insult them, that'll work.

Watching Obama and Clinton stick their foots in their proverbial mouths every week has now over-taken watching Red Sox baseball games on my favorite things to do list. I'm amazed at how often a professional speaker (which is all they're really good for) can manage to self-destruct so consistently. I suppose lying can get confusing when you tell different lies everyday.

Here's my advice to Mr. Obama. If you're going to lie, stick with it. Write them down on a notepad. Invest in some post-its and stick them to the podium. Hire Mayor Villarigosa from LA to remember them. He's a pro at lying. Just stop making yourself look like a fool.

And a little note for HIllary, don't be so quick to point out Obama's faults. There might be snipers around. Or not.

Signing off,
Charles Drengberg