Just Some Random Thoughts...

Well yeah, it has been a while. And I would update this thing more often if I could type faster.

Enough of this Bravo Sierra, let us cut to the chase. With the Primary Season over and the New York Senator officially suspending her campaign (voluntarily or not), the future of this schizophrenic land of the free depends on whether, to use his own quote 4 years ago:

...the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. The audacity of hope!

Or whether Senator Obama can survive the firepower of the Republican Political Attack Machine, code name 527:

Republicans say that using Democrats' own words against Obama effectively augments attacks from McCain surrogates like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who this morning said, "for all of Barack Obama's charm ... he doesn't have the experience to lead our economy at a time like this."

"People at this point expect us not to say nice things about Democrats," said Holly Robichaud, a Republican consultant.

As if this is a source of pride (well maybe it is. See John Deans excellent book "Conservatives Without Conscience").

Nor can the Senator from Illinois expect even a smidgen of help from the Media Whores, who long ago ate at the Barbecue of "Sprinkles" McCain:

AP: As you mentioned, Ron, myself, a couple of AP reporters. we spend quite a bit of time with on the back of the “Straight Talk Express” asking you questions and what we’ve decided to do today is invite everyone else along on the ride. We even brought you your favorite treats.

McCain: Oh my God…hehehe..Let’s see if we got the right kind. Oh yes, with sprinkles.

AP: Sprinkles…

McCain: Hmmm. This is our latest health Program..

AP: A little coffee with a little cream and a little sugar. I think we’re set for the hard questions.

Yeah, it is enough to make you think, here we go again. Just like the War on Gore in 2000 and the Swift Boating of Kerry in 2004.

Except that maybe this time, the Democratic Candidate "gets it". May be the "O" man (thanks Field) realizes the Corporate Press are not his friends. Maybe his decision today to opt out of public financing is the beginning of strategy that has at it's core a central truth: You can not win an election if you play by the rules established by 12 years of Republican dominance. Rules that are so rigged to favor the GOP and their lobbyist masters that you must change strategies for you to have a chance of winning.

I hope the "O" man succeeds, and am cautiously optimistic about his chances (remember Tom Bradley in 1982). But there are forces in the USA that are terrified should he win the Presidency, an not just the Usual Suspects.

The Corparatocracy that has flourished under Bush/Cheney has operated with impunity, and they very much wish for it to stay that way. A Obama win would put a lot of these crooks out of business, and they like doing business. You can bet the last thing they want is the head of the FDA to be an acedemic with a badge.