NEWS AND COMMENT

SCOTT MCCLELLAN TO VOTE FOR OBAMA

Are we really happy to get an endorsement from this former White House press secretary? Would we welcome the endorsement of Michele Bachman? Or, heaven forbid, Osama Bin Laden?


CAMPAIGN DRESSING

Big issue: McCain campaign spent $150,000 on clothes for VP nominee Sarah Palin, purchased at high end stores. Big deal. How does this differ from buying campaign signs, or installing Greek style columns? On the one hand, I'm glad to have the McCain campaign impeded by a phony issue. However, distractions such as this and the William Ayres terrorist implication and the ACORN foolishness have no place in in serious campaigns.

And, in this case, buying the clothes for Palin is clearly relevant and proper since she is mainly a campaign decoration.


PALIN FLAP

Chris Matthews and others have been bashing VP candidate Sarah Palin for her view of the role of the vice president. In response to a question from a 3rd grader, she said, among other things, that the VP is in charge of the Senate and can promote policies there that will improve our nation.

The pundits keep pointing out that, under the Constitution, the vice president's role is only to succeed the president if necessary and to preside over the Senate, voting only to break any tie.

Has no one heard of Dick Cheney? He has demonstrated that the VP job can include running the White House, monitoring the CIA, firing Justice Department lawyers, promoting the use of torture, and starting wars in the Middle East.




AL SMITH DINNER

John McCain and Barack Obama each gave a good light-hearted performance at the annual white tie Al Smith dinner, which brings Democratic politicians together and raises millions for charity.

Unlike the outcomes at the debates, John McCain earned at least a draw. His delivery was better than Barack's (Barack is Swahili for "That One"), who tends to laugh at his own lines.

McCain noted that he had replaced his entire campaign staff with Joe the Plumber. He aso said that he thought that some at the dinner were secretly hoping that he would win. Then he observed that Hillary Clinton was in attendance.

Obama was pleased that, in the heat of their political battle, he and Senator McCain could sit down at dinner together without preconditions. He made a reference to McCain's age but could have improved it to:

"At one of our debates, I praised Al Smith and compared our careers and John immediately
replied ' Senator, I knew Al Smith; Al Smith was a friend of mine; and ....etc....' "


NEAT COMMENT

Let me paraphrase an incisive remark by Jonathan Alter. Obama is doing well in part because many Americans had not been following the primaries and tuned into the debates expecting to see a Jesse Jackson but instead saw Will Smith.



SUB-ROSA NEWS

Some of the News
That may be True


WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE OF CAT FOOD LOOMS

The UN Committee on World Hunger reported that demand for cat food, mainly in industrialized countries, has soared, resulting in severe shortages. In the United States, supply problems and higher prices have been particularly prevalent in Florida and Arizona, but officials note that problems exist throughout the country.

Social agencies have reported that many of its senior clients are suffering from early stages of malnutrition. Complaints of price gouging have risen dramatically and several states have enacted laws and are imposing fines. The Association of Community Senior Centers has called for congressional hearings.

Several pet food manufacturers are working round the clock and all deny any unwarranted price increases.

A spokesman for AARP issued a statement that, although acknowledging that the world is overrun with too many cats, there is no truth to the rumor that it is preparing a cookbook with recipes for cooking cats.




FINANCIAL CRISIS SOLUTION

Unlike prior responses to crises, the Bush administration has been making a valiant effort to solve massive financial meltdown we are facing. Although the remedies make some sense, the stock market has continued to plunge and the economy is suffering.

This weekend, the G-7 foreign ministers are meeting in Washington to address this world wide problem with a world wide solution. Based on prior experiences, prospects are not good.

The solution? Get Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, and T. Boone Pickins together and do whatever they say.




QUESTIONS


McCain has a plan for the government to help distressed homeowners burdened by mortgages they cannot pay.
Is it true that the government would be paying off these mortgages at face value?

Doesn't the rescue plan do the same thing, giving the government these mortgages, which
have been securitized?

So isn't rescue route much superior, since purchases are at a heavily discounted price?


Millions of Americans live in apartments, condos, and small homes. Most of these have living room - dining areas and small kitchens.

How in the world do these families figure out their budgets and pay their bills when they do not have a kitchen table?