Bon Jovi is not having it, Sarah Palin

Palin and McCain don't seem to understand how to ask for permission to use artist's songs for their rallies. Also, they seem to keep using songs by artists that do not support them. Add Bon Jovi to the list of musicians who have spoken up about the use of their songs by McCain and Palin. Do Palin and McCain not realize that Jon Bon Jovi recently held a fundraiser for Obama?

Obama's mad debate skills!

In case you missed it...

Can we just vote already?

I wasn't going to watch the debate last night, but I ended up seeing it with a group of friends. I cannot watch these things alone, I get too infuriated. And last night was no exception. Overall, I thought that Obama kept his composure and, even when McCain really could have put him on the defensive, he brought it back to the issues. McCain was grasping for whatever last breaths of air he could get.

Now, I may be biased, but here is an overview of the debate from my perspective:

Issue: Campaign Attacks
McCain: You hurt my feelings, why didn't you call me so we could do a town hall?
Obama: Look at the polls, people seem to think my campaign is less negative and focuses on the issues.
McCain: You didn't defend Palin/me when whats-his-face said [true] things about the people that attend my rallies. (ie. chanting 'kill him')
Obama: Yes I did...I don't agree with your views on healthcare...economy...yada...yada
McCain: My supporters are great...vets...patriots...Joe the Plumber...
Obama: They call me a terrorist and and want to kill me.
McCain: Aren't you a terrorist? You're buddies with Ayers and involved with ACORN. Ha! Gotcha!
Obama: Here's the truth about those things and you have no point. *Smile*

Issue: Health Care
Obama: Here's my plan to make sure everyone gets coverage.
McCain: That costs too much money, let's just give everyone $5,000 for health care!
Obama: But that's not dealing with the underlying issue with our system.
McCain: Socialist! Don't vote for this commie!

Issue: Which programs would you cut during financial hardtimes?
McCain: An across the board spending freeze - that's the hatchet and I would get out a scalpel...look I know how to cut programs.
Moderator: Could you be more specific?
McCain: Pork-barrel earmark projects. We'll cut the pork, that's why I have a hatchet...Joe the Plumber!

Issue: V.P. as Pres should something happen to you
Obama: Joe Biden's great! Look at his record.
McCain: (Oh Shit!) Uh...energy independence...Joe sixpack...isn't she adorable!

Issue: Bias in picking a Supreme Court judge (excellent question!)
McCain: I am unbiased in picking judges, but abortion is wrong! Obama is pro-abortion!
Obama: I will pick a judge that is intelligent, experienced, and who recognizes a woman's constitutional right to privacy. I support Roe v. Wade and feel that the decision is between the woman and her doctor (DAMN STRAIGHT!!!!!)
McCain: Obama voted to kill infants!
Obama: No, I just didn't support a bill in Illinois that would have compromised Roe v. Wade, there is already a law in Illinois that doctors must resuscitate an infant, not to mention the Hippocratic oath.
McCain: You're a Pro-abortion extremist! You want to kill all babies!
Obama: First of all, no one is pro-abortion. I am pro-choice.
McCain: Don't fall for his fancy words, America!
Obama: Look, there are good, intelligent people on both sides of this debate. We have common ground here...prevention of unwanted pregnancies, support for single moms, options for adoption. (Can I get an amen!)
McCain: (Air quotes) "Health of the mother"? You want to kill all babies...

McCain was certainly trying to paint Obama as an extremist, left-wing, baby-killing, commie terrorist. And he was unapologetic for it too. This debate made me lose any respect that I had left for McCain, as he tried to play into the unsubstantiated fears of many people in this country. I just hope that a lot of other people recognized this in him too and don't vote for him.

It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel...a little worried

Did you know that the economy’s gone to shit? I know, why doesn’t anyone talk about it?

Okay, so I watched the first presidential debate on Friday (or at least half of it, that which I could hear over the packed bar full of NYU students). I thought that Obama brought his A-game and didn’t back down. Since I couldn’t hear everything that was said, there were times where I could only focus on body language. A few things I noticed:

-Obama looked directly at McCain several times and McCain would only look at Jim Lehrer.
-The reactions of both McCain and Obama were hilarious! Both had smirks come up several times throughout the debate. McCain especially, while writing down notes as Obama was speaking.
-Obama let out a big smile that, while I’ll explicitly state is not the reason I want to vote for him, did make me crush on him a little.

Of what I did hear, this was the best line in debate history: McCain’s reaction to Obama’s statement about Pakistan, “You don’t do that! You don’t say that out loud!”. Priceless.

BTW – Excellent piece(s) in the NYTimes today about the absence of healthcare in the election lately. Where did it go?

I’m gearing up for the VP debate this Thursday. Palin’s ineptitude has been shown in the past few weeks, so it will be interesting to see her performance at the debate. Of course, the McCain campaign has set “restrictions” to the debate, to make it more even for Palin. Really? You know, Hillary got so much BS for having to work even harder to be taken seriously as a woman and Palin waltzes in and has the election dumbed down for her? There’s the part of me that thinks there is no way that McCain/Palin are going to get elected, especially after her performance lately. But, last night I saw a clip of Bush and I was taken back to the 2000 election, when I thought there was no way in hell that he would ever get elected. Some American people, or the rigged voting system – however you see it, were silly enough to elect him – twice! – why would this be any different for Palin?

Speaking of Palin, an SNL sketch of Palin’s interview with Katie Couric was spot on! Thanks Tina Fey for making SNL funny again and the election slightly more amusing. Anyway, to see Tina Fey’s remarkable resemblance, I’ve posted both interviews here. Enjoy!

Copyright infringement

Apparently McCain keeps using music for his campaign without approval from the musicians. Is requesting permission really that hard? We sing a Jackson Browne song in choir (see the link below). Fitting for McCain, don't you think?

Jackson Browne - Lives In The Balance lyrics LyricsMode.com