I've been utterly baffled for eight years, but I think I may have figured something out, with the help of John McCain and his insights on the crisis (aka soundness) in the economy.  I've been misdefining "fundamentals"!  It turns out that the "Fundamentals of the Economy" are simply "the American worker", not abstractions like capital, labor, raw materials, productivity, consumer confidence and open markets.  This is a profound revelation, as it suggests a redefinition of the "Fundamental" qualifications for the highest political office in the country (if no longer the world). Apparently those Fundamentals have more to do with sharp teeth, a compelling/dramatic life story and a disarming mediocrity of intelligence, education and intellectual curiousity that complements the guys and gals down at the local sports bar. My mistake was looking for superior education, eloquence, knowledge of the major issues, a knack for retaining important details and positions that are supported by past actions. In short, I always thought our top leaders absolutely HAD to be smarter than me, more articulate than me, better informed than me and much more accomplished in ways that served their communities and our country.  My bad. Sadly, this makes the choice for president a little harder for me, because even though he's too smart in all those other ways, Obama's a much better guy to watch a basketball game with.

It's time we all got over Sarah Palin. She's a brilliant diversion that could only come from a profoundly cynical (Rovian) mind. Her only whiff of relevance is what her selection says about McCain and his shocking descent from maverick to puppet. Regardless of what McCain the individual wanted to be as a candidate, we don't elect individuals in this country, we elect parties. We vote for individuals, but we elect parties, and there are only two parties that can compete effectively. McCain may have put on a third-party convention a few weeks ago, but without the Republican Party "talent and treasure" (aka Religious Right, NRA, "big oil", anti-taxers, etc.) he couldn't hope to compete for the presidency.  As a result, he can't credibly represent (let alone deliver) "change".  His campaign tactics are more of the same because the machinery behind it is the same.  But this time, instead of a hulking bulldog snarling in the shadows at his side we have a one-trick pitbull with lipstick prancing and frothing in front of him.