What Happened In Denver

So the donkey convention is all over, and we have to start bracing for the elephants next week. Until then, you can relive some of the great and ridiculous moments with the Democratic National Convention 2008 collection of audio clips. (This one might be my favourite.)

THIS Guy?

Biden?! Oh, all right. I like Biden, though when I first heard, I wasn’t thrilled about it for a lot of the same reasons I was anti-Dodd. But in my feed-skimming this morning, I eventually came around; LAist made the best case for him (particularly the last point — I certainly like the idea of a Vice-President Pit Bull who can keep Obama on the high road).

The Breakthrough

You have to give Barack Obama credit for building suspense around his vice-presidential pick; the editors at every political blog are spending today obsessively monitoring their CNN news alerts for the first whiff of a creditable name. The downer is that his pick will almost certainly be a regular old white dude of the sort we’re all perfectly accustomed to seeing getting sworn in on the steps of the Supreme Court, the better to take the perceived “edge” off Obama; it’s just kind of a shame that all the names that seem to be in the air belong to guys who are so hard to get excited about. And it’s not like Obama really needs to pick someone who won’t outshine him. I don’t know if I’m the first person to observe this, but the guy is pretty charismatic; he could stand to have a running mate who would ALSO bring some electricity to the ticket without showing him up. So is it too late for me to make a suggestion? How about Mary J. Blige? She’s over age thirty-five. She’s American-born (as far as I know). And she could grant the rights for the campaign to put out a new single — “No More Drama” rewritten as “Vote Obama”! And at the convention, Obama could say in his acceptance speech that he doesn’t want any hateration — we already know he doesn’t! I offer this advice to the campaign completely free of charge. (And thanks to Kim for her contributions to this genius idea.)

John McCain Is SO RICH…

“How rich is he?” He’s SO RICH he’s not even sure how rich he actually is. Last week, Barack Obama commented that, if elected President, McCain would only look out for those making $2.5 million a year or more, but it’s possible that McCain might not even care about those people since they are so far from being his financial peers: when recently asked how many houses he owned, McCain said he wasn’t sure. And, to be fair, I’ve been in that position too, only in my case it would be something more like not being sure how many pairs of jeans I own. And I think my answer is probably lower than seven.

Don’t Fear The Zogby

Daily Kos tells me I shouldn’t be too worried that one new poll has McCain leading Obama, so I will try not to be. And even though it’s only ONE poll, it’s still kind of confounding. This is a guy who thinks it’s hilarious to say that you have to have $5 million before you’re “rich”; who supports reinstating the draft; who is annoyed by his wife’s “obsession” with gadgets, by which I assume he means such confounding thingamajigs as electronic thermometers and Cassingles. Obama needs to keep hammering McCain on this kind of crap to remind whatever crackhead voters Zogby’s talking to of what McCain is actually like.

The Obama Campaign Gets Shirty

This is really shaping up to be an election decided less in the voting booth than in the dressing room: first there were the flip-floppers’ flip-flops, and then the Anna Wintour-hosted fundraiser, and Joel McHale’s endorsement of the suit Barack Obama wore to speak in Germany, and now it appears as though the Obama campaign is getting its own whole fashion line. If the ladies’ shirts look like the one at right, I am totally going to get one, because: cute!

It Doesn’t Gitmo Idyllic Than This

I’ve certainly joked a lot about McCain being a confused old man; I think we all have. But now I think he might be at the point where he possibly could be a danger to himself or others. In this case, particularly others who are or may soon be living in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba: according to McCain, it’s among the world’s nicest places to live! Ooh, and let me apologize for posting the photo at right, in case it’s bummed you out that you’re in your office right now instead of enjoying such a sumptuous vacation spot.

Wintour Of Her Discontent

There’s no question in my mind that Michelle Obama is a very fashionable lady — not only isn’t she afraid to wear a hat, but I’m still dreaming about that hot purple number at right. (Though if I ever want to have arms like that, I’ll probably eventually have to lift something heavier than a pop at the movies.)  But it doesn’t matter how stylish she is: she’s going to be in the bad books at all the fashion rags now that a mailing for a garmento-themed Obama fundraiser has gone out plugging the attendance of “Ann Wintour.” Ouch! Let’s hope this doesn’t mean she gets turned down for freebie gowns come inauguration time! I don’t want to see my girl foxtrotting in something from Chico’s.

Dear Alabama: You Have Two Years To Elect Charles Barkley To Congress

Who knows how credible it could possibly be, but who cares? Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) was interviewed in a Birmingham newspaper about who might succeed him if he were to follow through on his notion to run for governor, and he floated the name of Charles Barkley, commenting, “I know he’s someone who has a real interest in the state, in wanting to see it move forward.” And even if Barkley didn’t have a real interest in the state, he would make a fantastic candidate; any one of these Barkley audio clips could be used against him in a most entertaining fashion.

Aw, Remember Ross Perot?

I think the 1992 Presidential campaign was the first I followed really obsessively (extremely obsessively, if you consider that I was a seventeen-year-old Canadian the day the election was actually held — two reasons I couldn’t have voted in it). And to give you an idea of what a misguided pinko I was — my guy? Jerry Brown. Adorable! Anyway, this item from Chicagoist today reminded me that it was actually a three-man race that year: Ross Perot was probably the last third-party spoiler who had a marginally reasonable chance of winning — proof of America’s love affair with a yammering kook. Perhaps you’d like to recall his wisdom with some choice Ross Perot audio clips.