"McCain't Fight This Feeling Anymore..."

I've still got some reservations about the guy, but at least while watching this I can breathe clear and easy; I've yet to see another campaign ad that captures patriotism like this one. I felt like one of those women who faint at Obama rallies. Just before I lost consciousness, I could hear and feel the words, "Yes, we can!" escape my lips...

McCain 2008--Can you feel it, my friends?

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Tired of stray cats keeping you up at night, or those irritating birds waking you up right at the crack of dawn? This is for you.

If there's one thing we know about birds and cats, it's that they're easily taken in by cleverly-disguised machine guns.

A Short Legislative Review

The 2008 Oregon Legislature “not-so-special” Special Session has finally ended. More money was spent, and government now does more things. But the most ominous legislation passed, at least in my view, was a HJR (House Joint Resolution) stating that everyone has a “universal right to health care.”

There are a lot of places that this could go, and I don’t like any of them. Whether it be regulation of insurers, state subsidies of insurers, or blatant socialized medicine, the road to government intervention is health care is now wide open. When government guarantees rights, it feels the need to do something to protect them. Unlike any other right, however, this one is going to cost money.

The Liberty website will be updated soon, on which you can check out my column “The Matter of Rights,” which more clearly lays out why these notions of entitlements as rights are bogus.

Watch out for Darth Vader, he'll getcha!

Perhaps this is why the original Star Wars movies are so popular and have such staying power--they can be easily explained by a multi-tasking three-year-old. For your protection, I'm giving this video a severe cuteness warning.

"Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings..."

The question: Can you name one accomplishment in the political career of Barack Obama?

The answers:


"Umm, well he can speak really well! That's not a political accomplishment? Oh...well, he's black! Did I mention he's black? That's an accomplishment isn't it?...That's true, I guess he didn't really have any control over that..."

Or my personal favorite, from the first video--

Yellow-Shirted Man (with smug tone): "He's a great oratater like Jesse Jackson!"

Questioner (exasperated): "What is that?!?"

All this goes to show that Obama's run a fantastic (although vague) campaign. All his supporters seem to know or care about him is that he is...well, a well-spoken black Senator. Nobody opposes Barack Obama because he is a great speaker, because he's black, or because he's a Senator.

No, I think it's something a little more substantial--like say, oh I don't know, maybe being the most liberal Senator in Congress? Wisely, Obama has spoken very little about his policy views. So until the candidates for each party are chosen, it looks like the Obama campaign is going to continue to be all about that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you hear, "Yes, we can!" and "Fired up, ready to go!"

Barack Obama: Pro-hope (as well as the requisite 'audacity' that accompanies it), Pro-dreams, Pro-future, and also very much in support of generic "good feelings."

Romney's Speech at CPAC

Here is the transcript, and here is the video:

Many have expressed concern over Romney's authenticity and whether he really believes any of the conservative principles he touted to voters during his campaign. The only way I can see it after this speech is that either: 1)Mitt Romney believes what he says, and he is committed to conservatism and America or 2)Mitt Romney is a liar on the level of Bill Clinton, saying anything to get elected, even to the point of lying in his withdrawal speech.

I think, after hearing and reading this speech, Romney is a fantastic American and I hope that he finds a place to prove his talents for these next four years.

UPDATE: A sentimental look at what might be in 2012...

Super Ultra Mega Gargantuan Monstrous Behemoth Tuesday!

You know what day it is! It's Mitt's last chance to turn things around, and a major test for the Democrats to see if Sen. Obama's message of change is more "changey" than Sen. Clinton's message of change.

I've got class for a few hours today, but I'll keep updating the results as they come in and I get a chance.

My hopes: Mitt stops the bleeding and an enraged McCain says something stupid, while Hillary stomps Obama

My predictions: McCain "straight-talks" his way to the nomination, and Hillary stomps Obama.

We'll see....

UPDATE (9:40 am):
Lizards for Mitt!
Robotic Jack Nicholsons for Hillary!

UPDATE (3:45 pm):
NRO has early exit poll results. Some numbers and general trends:

California- McCain 40%, Romney 36%, Huck 10%
This state is critical for Romney. Whether he wins or not, he at least needs a significant chunk of delegates to even think about continuing after today. Jim Geraghty reminds that these are preliminary results, without a district-by-district breakdown, and likely without 3 million absentee ballots. This might get a lot closer.

Missouri- Romney 36%, McCain 32%, Huck 25%
This was also a big state for Romney. It will be a major surprise if he holds on for the win here.

Georgia- Huck 34%, Romney 31%, McCain 30%
While I don't know the strategic importance of Georgia, I think it will be exciting to see how it turns out with all three candidates so close.

New England- McCain wins pretty handily. No surprise there. Liberal is as liberal does.
**Massachusetts, Romney's home state, is an obvious exception, but Delaware apparently is also going Mitt's way.

The South- Not counting the ones mentioned above, Huck is leading in most Southern states, followed by McCain and Romney, respectively. McCain has a slight lead over Huck in Oklahoma, though Romney is close enough that he might be able to stage a comeback...

McCain's winning his home state of Arizona, but only by five points...

UPDATE (4:10 pm):
Georgia is currently too close to call for the Republicans, but Obama smoked Clinton by about 3 to 1. Come on, Hillary! Can't you cry again, or something? Don't let Obama beat you. You know what must be done...

Also, from the Drudge Report, more early exit poll numbers:

WARNING: EXIT NUMBERS EARLY AND DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL VOTES:

OBAMA: Alabama: Obama 60, Clinton 37... Arizona: Obama 51, Clinton 45... Connecticut: Obama 53, Clinton 45... Delaware: Obama 56, Clinton 42... Illinois: Obama 70, Clinton 30... Massachusetts: Obama 50, Clinton 48... Missouri: Obama 50, Clinton 46... New Jersey: Obama 53, Clinton 47...

CLINTON: Arkansas: Clinton 72, Obama 26... California: Clinton 50, Obama 47... New York: Clinton 56, Obama 43... Oklahoma: Clinton 61, Obama 31... Tennessee: Clinton 52, Obama 41...

There are a couple close states there, but it looks like most Democrats have decided one way or the other. I also notice that Obama seems to have a lot more states behind his name. What else could explain it but....the audacity of hope.

Well, my hopes were apparently too audacious because neither Mitt nor Hillary are winning out and out, but where there's a clever marketing strategy, there's a way:













UPDATE (6:30 pm):
Jim Geraghty has a list of called states:

Republicans:

McCain: NJ, IL, DE, CT

Romney: MA

Huckabee: WV, AR, AL

Democrats:

Hillary Clinton: AR, OK, TN

Barack Obama: IL, GA

Guess I was wrong about Delaware being for Mitt.

UPDATE (11:15 pm):
Well, my predictions were kind of right. McCain "straight-talked" his way through the day, and Hillary leads Obama, but she certainly didn't stomp him. She may be stomping her feet right now, as Obama did fairly well today. Things are much closer for the Democrats because (as far as I can tell) each state gave out delegates proportionately rather than 'winner-take-all' like many of the Republican primaries did.

As of now, here are the delegate counts:
Clinton: 668
Obama: 557

McCain: 514
Romney: 177
Huckabee: 122

The winner-take-all states explain the much bigger difference in the GOP numbers. To borrow a nearly worn-out phrase, I Hate Huckabee. Clearly, he fancies himself a vice president. It would be tempting to vote against a McCain-Huck ticket simply out of spite. Must...resist...cultural suicide...

Alas, it seems this spells the end for our hero Mitt Romney. We hardly knew ye.
There are only three words that can express my disappointment and shame:

Game over, man!