The Wellstone Millstone
and
The Sheer Genius of John McCain

Now that the lights have faded and the political convention fanfare is over, these events have crystallized some things. First of all, Senator Obama’s speech from Mount Olympus was moving to some, but the sheer pageantry exposed him and the Democrats once again for what they really are all about; themselves. The high flying Hollywood crowd approved. Why shouldn’t they; the whole spectacle could have been held at Caesars Palace in Vegas! Unfortunately, the Democrats and the Senator still don’t realize the lesson from Paul Wellstone’s memorial. A very popular Minnesota Senator, he was rightly being honored with a memorial by the Democrats in 2002, right before a midterm election, The massive event however, turned into a “show” for liberal agenda elites and the far left wagged the dog. The backfire aided in keeping Republicans in the Congressional majority.

Senator Obama also, revealed that even as a minority he was willing to gamble on losing it all because he was not man enough to lift Hilary Clinton onto his ticket. That combination would have made the pair a near sure thing in November. The equivocating Obama was unable to go for the jugular though, and whimped out by picking a safe choice in Joe Biden. Biden brings some attributes Obama needs, but not the zing that would help him close the deal like of a woman running mate.

John McCain, sensing Obama’s error not only brought the Republican ticket to the verge of history by naming a woman VP, but he chose a relative unknown. As it turns out Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is a natural. She is so because she comes from small town America, not from among the elite like Obama, Biden, and even McCain himself. The intangible that America has grown weary of is the guilded class. Sarah Palin is a no nonsense, strait talking, reform Governor from a fairly large state. She carries energy and economic credentials.

The Obama campaign has been flummoxed since Palin’s selection. They can’t figure out how to attack her without a rebound that will hurt Obama. The Democrat candidate is already suspected of being a bit sexist because of the Hilary snub. His lack of serious consideration for the poor woman has boomeranged against him. Mrs. Clinton after all received 18 million votes in the Democratic primaries. Now if Obama’s camp attacks Palin they will be seen ever increasingly as a sexist chauvinistic men's club that is standing on top of the glass ceiling that Palin is attempting to break. If Obama is to live by his own mantra “you can’t attack me because I’m black”then he can’t readily do similarly to Palin without also being seen as a hypocrite.

John McCain might not have seen all of the ramifications of choosing Palin, but then again it is likely that he did. He has always been underestimated in his life. He overcame long odds in a Vietnam prison camp, and then on the political stage. Fourteen months ago the darling of the media from Campaign 2000 was alone, carrying his own luggage through airline turnstiles. He had been abandoned by everyone. The media had moved on to crown Obama the new wizard deluxe. Everyone in the media thought McCain’s race for the White House was finished. McCain knew otherwise; just as he knew the surge in Iraq was America’s best option for success. He was correct on both counts, and Senator Obama’s inabilities to be forthright and admit it in the face of overwhelming evidence illuminates that the Illinois Senator is nothing new despite his appearance to the contrary. He is like the Wellstone memorial attendees chanting “rah rah for my party” rather than solemn in dignity for his countrymen. For this reason today Senator McCain leads in political polls by as much as 10 points in a year when Democrats should breeze to the White House. The Wellstone display like the self-aggrandizing Democratic convention is a millstone weighing down Obama. It threatens to drown him. American’s flock to a winner and Palin is on the rise with wings. They don’t care for arrogance and Obama is becoming its poster-child.

For some, both Presidential tickets may be backward, but as of today McCain’s genius has shined again. The people are ready for a women reformer. Palin and McCain have deeds and accomplishments to back up their words. Obama's glitz, showmanship, and silver tongue without significant accomplishments are a millstone around his neck.