"Paul G. Kirk, Jr. (69 year-old white man) and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. (a 68 year-old white man), both co-chairmen of the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), have announced the moderators for the 2008 general election presidential debates:

1.  Jim Lehrer [74 year-old white man];
2.  Tom Brokaw [68 year-old white man]; and
3.  Bob Schieffer [71 year-old white man].

In announcing the moderators, they might well have said, "we thought it was important that each of the moderators be a retirement age white man."

How did they decide that all of the moderators of presidential debates should be white men beyond retirement age? Were they trying to make John McCain feel more comfortable about being older than 88% of America's population? The Commission on Presidential Debates really cannot be said to be "non-partisan" since it clearly represents the O.W.M.P (Old White Men's Party).

We should call these the "Founding Father Debates" since all of the moderators are old enough, white enough and male enough to have been present at the first Constitutional Conventions!

There's nothing wrong with being an old white man, but is it really fair that, at all three successive debates, Barack Obama will be faced by John McCain and a moderator who looks just like John McCain in every demographic respect?

Is this not a subtle way of erroneously telling America that only old white men are responsible and wise enough to hold positions of responsibility?  That certainly would be a crazy and counter-productive message for Democrats to send right before a presidential election in which their nominee is a Black man. So, this is yet another example of old white men valuing exclusionary politics over broader Party self-interest.

We all love and respect Brokaw, Lehrer and Schieffer. Each of them is like our best image of a grandfather or great-grandfather?  But we also have great respect for (that old white lady who fucked the Black senator from Massachusetts), as well as (the old Black man who was an anchor at CNN) and (the Black guy who was on television as an anchor).

The fix is in, the die has been cast, the Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate has been chosen.

Many have wondered, many have guessed, many have spoken with authority.  But all were wrong.

If I were any good with iMovie, I'd do Phil Collins + images of mansions. I mean, you've got the memory issue, the home issue, the prisoner all your life issue...anyone?

So take, take me home
Cos I dont remember
Take, take me home
Cos I dont remember
Take, take me home
Cos I dont remember
Take, take me home, oh lord
Cos Ive been a prisoner all my life
...

This afternoon hazmat was called to McCain Office

Having trouble remembering how many houses you have, John?

K, well...

Based on this quote by Obama earlier (via Mark Assperan):

Says he's chosen someone "to challenge me so we have got a robust debate in the White House."

And from USA today:

In an interview in Chester, Va., the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said he's made up his mind, but he would not say whether he's informed that person yet. "I won't comment on anything else until I introduce our running mate to the world," he said. "That's all you're going to get out of me."

Obama said it was a difficult decision. "We had some great choices."

Obama said he wanted somebody who is "prepared to be president" and who will be "a partner with me in strengthening this economy for the middle class and working families."

He said he was looking for not just a partner but a sparring partner. "I want somebody who's independent, somebody who can push against my preconceived notions and challenge me so we have got a robust debate in the White House."

People need to get a grip.

Russ Feingold is a great senator in the best of the midwest labor populist progressive tradition.  

Feingold is reliably progressive on foreign policy.  Feingold is reliably progressive on domestic policy.  He was the ONLY Senator to vote against the USA PATRIOT Act, i.e., to vote in support of the first and fourth amendments.

If we weren't a nation of lingering religious prejudice and sexual hypocracy (OMG!  He's divorced 2 x!), Feingold would be an acknowledged future presidential prospect and on any Democrat's vice presidential short list.

Jeremiah Wright = McCain's affair/affairs (my prediction is that neither side will bite on either of these)

other pastors = Hagee/the other crazy pastor

Rezko = Keating 5/other sleazy lobbyists

Ayers = McCain's ties to mobsters and G. Gordon Liddy

Argula/bitter = $500 loafers/not knowing how many homes you own

Race card = POW card

Anything else?