Unless you're in elementary school, of course.

Seriously, it seems obvious to me that Congress choosing to delay the Aug. recess to pass health care bills would be a HUGE political winner.

Put aside the policy implications for a moment and just think about the optics.  Congress is giving up their summer vacations to complete the work of the people.  Democrats have been saying for years that addressing health care is one of the most crucial issues confronting us today.  Delaying recess would symbolize how serious the Dems are about solving the problem in a way that Joe Sixpack could readily understand.

Seems like a lot of us on this site have suggestions for what the Obama campaign should be saying/doing.  Nothwithstanding the "free advice is worth..." cliche, I had an idea.  Why not at least post potential ad ideas and hope that maybe they spark something.  We saw it with the "Lipstick Pig" ad on the mothership site.  Now, I'm not technically savvy enough to do the YouTube mashup versions or anything, so I have to stick to plain old type.  And since my "real job" means I don't have a lot of time to put into this, I'm probably not being as thorough as many of you may want or could be.  But what the heck.  Lemme throw this out and show you what I mean:   

Start w/a clip of McCain saying Obama has requested nearly a billion in earmarks, then come to a screetching halt.  Narrator:  "No, that wasn't Barack Obama, that was John McCain's running mate.  She's requseted over $750m in earmarks for Alaska; more per person than any other state in the nation.  And that's just as governor.  She even hired Washington lobbists, like the dozens now running John McCain's campaign, to score over $25 million in earmarks for her town of 5,000 people.  Seems John McCain can't decide whether earmarks are good or bad.  We don't need any more of the same old hypocricy from our elected officials.  America doesn't need more of the same.  It's time for a change."

Seems like a lot of us on this site have suggestions for what the Obama campaign should be saying/doing.  Nothwithstanding the "free advice is worth..." cliche, I had an idea.  Why not at least post potential ad ideas and hope that maybe they spark something.  We saw it with the "Lipstick Pig" ad on the mothership site.  Now, I'm not technically savvy enough to do the YouTube mashup versions or anything, so I have to stick to plain old type.  And since my "real job" means I don't have a lot of time to put into this, I'm probably not being as thorough as many of you may want or could be.  But what the heck.  Lemme throw this out and show you what I mean:   

Start w/a clip of McCain saying Obama has requested nearly a billion in earmarks, then come to a screetching halt.  Narrator:  "No, that wasn't Barack Obama, that was John McCain's running mate.  She's requseted over $750m in earmarks for Alaska; more per person than any other state in the nation.  And that's just as governor.  She even hired Washington lobbists, like the dozens now running John McCain's campaign, to score over $25 million in earmarks for her town of 5,000 people.  Seems John McCain can't decide whether earmarks are good or bad.  We don't need any more of the same old hypocricy from our elected officials.  America doesn't need more of the same.  It's time for a change."

From the ABCNews.com lead story:

Referring to the lipstick remark, Dowd said it was "an expression that was fine to use two weeks ago. ... My guess is whether they apologize or not, Barack Obama will never use that expression again in the next 60 days."

I TOTALLY disagree.  I think Obama should push this line again and again.  First, when used in all sorts of contexts, it vitiates the argument that it was a sexist term.  Second, it makes the McCain camp continually respond, which further bolsters Obama's point that they have no ideas, just rhetoric.  Finally, speaking as a member of the "Democrat" party, it will drive the opposition nuts!

Also, it's about time Obama did an ad that simply catalogs the lies tied to the theme of "They have nothing to offer."  Call them out:

"John McCain hasn't given Americans any ideas about how he plans to address the challenges we face.  Instead we get nothing but lies."  Then do a montage of the lies where there's a buzzer or stamp or something after each one.  Then close with, "America is tired of the old politics of lies and distortions.  Barack Obama has real solutions for our future, not more of the same."

Unfortunately, Matt Drudge...excuse me...Charlie Gibson ran out of time in last nite's debate and didn't get to press the candidates on these crucial questions as well:

Hillary Clinton:
1)  Was it really you that pulled the trigger on Vince Foster?
2)  Your marriage to a man notwithstanding, what's it like to be the first lesbian candidate for President?
3)  If you could say anything to Monica Lewinsky, what would it be?

Barack Obama:
1)  Do you plan on establishing an Islamic theocracy in America?
2)  Since your last name rhymes with Osama and middle name is the same as the former dictator of Iraq, will you reject and renounce their statements?
3)  Why do you hate God and the Second Amendment?

Am I forgetting any other issues of national importance?

I always seem to be reading instances where this administration is selling out the average American, but I can never recall them all together (too many beers in college).  I think a list of examples could be a compelling platform for any candidate.  Can we come up with such a list?  Let me start:

-Gulf coast wage cut

-Bankruptcy bill (more details probably needed)

-Not pushing for increased gasoline efficiency

-Opposing Dept. of Homeland Security

-Reversing exec. order on ergonomics rules

-Proposal to "restructure" overtime rules 

Less than a month after the response to Hurrican Katrina became the biggest embarrasment this country has seen in decades, we're witnessing further proof of this administration's continuing inability, or more likely unwillingness, to address our capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters.

Remember that one of the reasons we went to war in Iraq was because we feared chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons being unleashed on one of our cities.

Rita has been a relatively slow moving storm which has provided ample time for an orderly evacuation. However, the evacuation has been a farce and we're witnessing gas shortages, stranded motorists, and gridlock for hundreds of miles. Imagine if this had been a chemical or biological attack. There would have been chaos and mass panic which would have infinitely worsened what we're seeing now.

Rita storm provided us with a unique opportunity to conduct a real-time test evacuation of a major metropolitan area and we failed miserably. I would have thought the images of New Orleans would have shocked the administration into real disaster planning. Is it going to take thousands stranded on the highways when the storm hits to grab the President's attention?

Today's NYT has a series of articles on intelligent design. These follow a laughably poorly written article from only a week or so ago. More public figures are going on record stating their views: ID or evolution, God or Darwin? Based on no research whatsoever, but rather on my own observations, doesn't it seem like the ID issue is really starting to resonate in the echo chamber? I can't help but wonder if Republicans are taking it out for a test-drive with the goal of using this in 06 to spur their conservative Christian base to the polls. Has anybody else had this thought?