I was going to copy and paste from my blog, but unfortunately it took out the formatting so here's a link.

First, let's admit that John McCain is a maverick.  He likes to make his decisions as quickly as possible and then live with the consequences.  He's independent and he thinks with his heart instead of his head. He has a temper that he isn't afraid to show.  He's a maverick...Just like that other cowboy who rode into town 8 years ago to be a uniter not a divider and get rid of the Old Boy way of doing things.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KzkAZC40a_U&eurl=http://thatsrightnate.com/

First let me say wow.  If we thought picking Sarah Palin as VP was a shakeup, Cindy McCain’s idea to bring an actual black person from Africa to the convention was groundbreaking albeit sort of an about face on the whole party of Lincoln thing.  Still, I believe she was there of her own free will and it was great to see all the delegates standing to applaud the black woman.

9:11 More black people in the video–Nice!

9:12 Awesome job getting the POW thing in.  I was worried they’d skip it.  It’d be nice if he mentions it in his speech, but I know he’s reluctant to do that.  Wow, Thompson is almost Charlton Heston like with that booming oration and then the place goes totally dark–Poof McCain appears.  Very regal!

9:14 Crowd seemed louder for Palin, but this isn’t bad.  At this late an hour I expect a lot of the delegates would be in bed if they were home.

9:16 Odd–I think they just showed one of the McCain homes on the big screen behind him.  Hmm, how did the McCain Votes Against Vets sign get in there.

9:17 I think the crowd just applauded the 9/11 attacks.

9:19 John is talking to Cindy.  I really like that McCain thanked the candidates he defeated in the primary and I wish by the same token, Cindy would have thanked Carol McCain

9:24 It has to be tough to read the teleprompter with protesters and the delegates chanting USA.  I do like the blue screen behind McCain.

9:26 Where are the Palin kids and the baby daddy?  McCain’s kids are too old to be cute.  We need the cuteness appeal though it was awesome that the McCain’s let Bridget get online tonight.

9:27 I really hope McCain meant he wants to show Palin around Washington and not that he wants to introduce her to General Washington.  Sometimes it is hard to tell.

9:29 Another black person in the crowd.

9:31 Awesome–he got the surge in.

9:34 That’s why the base can’t stand McCain.  He just praised somebody with an autistic son.  Didn’t Michael Savage just establish that autism was just bad parenting.

9:36  Interesting–He argues that the Republicans screwed up so now we need to fix it by electing more Republicans.  You never admit to screwing up.  I guess that’s why he’s a maverick.

9:37 Nice attack on the Supreme Court liberals.  Whichever ones are left.

9:39 The McCain health care plan is a winner.  I don’t even know how somebody could spend the $5,000 you get on medical in a year.

9:40 A man with a beard, appeared to be Hispanic.

9:42 After watching it for the last 30 minutes I have to say seeing McCain against a blue screen with nothing on it is majestic.

9:43 “Equal access to public education has been gained” I hope Reverend Meeks in Chicago heard that.

9:45 Sarah likes the drilling!

9:48 Now thar we’re leaving Iraq, Russia and Iran we’re coming for you!!

9:48 Yet another black person.  She was napping though.  Never mind, same woman I saw before.

9:49 Bea Arthur spotted in crowd with McCain sign

9:50 Ah, McCain’s memories of WWII, but he still hasn’t mentioned…Oh never mind.  He just did.

9:53 He really shouldn’t smile

9:54 Potential minority…Actually looks like an Italian woman on the closeup.  Cute though.

9:55 Here’s the big POW part–good idea saving it for the big finish.

9:56  Wow they’re cold.  They laughed at him getting shot down and captured by the Vietnamese.

9:57  It’d be nice if some of the people imprisoned with McCain were here for a reunion.  It’d be a nice touch.

9:59  He was a POW with Bob Crane?  Wasn’t that Colonel Hogan?

10:01 Asian of some type

10:02 Big sign that says “The Mavrick”.  As a James Garner fan I think its spelled maverick.  Somebody should have corrected him by now

10:04 Happy black person in crowd.  Definitely a night of inclusion

9:29 Wow, look at all those women.  I’m proud to be in such an inclusive party.  Male, Female, Baptist, Southern Baptist, if you’re an evangelical you’ll find room under our big tent.

9:31 There’s something about her voice that reminds me of the movie Fargo, but most Alaskans don’t have that kind of accent.

9:33 Wow, I didn’t reallize McCain made that “he’d rather lose an election than a war” statement a year ago.

9:34 Hmm, she said “there’s a time to campaign and a time to put our country first”.  I suppose if I was a reporter my followup would be “are you campaigning now or putting your country first?”

9:35 Its none of our business, but were her children named after sled dogs or something. Trig, Tack, Bristol?  What’s wrong with American names like Ronald or Nate?

9:38 Wow! She pledged to be an advocate for special needs kids.  I wonder if all home schools are going to have to be handicapped accessible now?

9:42 Why don’t people think that being mayor of a town of 5,000 isn’t good experience for being President of the United States?

9:48 Ted Stephens and Palin did a great job on cleaning up Alaska and deserve credit for that.

9:50 Defeating the bridge to nowhere is such an accomplishment.  When she ran for governor she ran in support of it so it couldn’t have been easy for her to change.

9:57 Wow!  Obama advocated Miranda Rights for Terrorists?  Why isn’t that in the MSM?

10:01 McCain was smart enough to hire the people who attacked him in the 2000 primary

10:05 I wonder why she waited so long to mention he was a POW. That’s the A material.

10:06 I love when they pan the crowd. Cindy loved this speech

10:08 Wow, Bristol is showing more at 5 months than her mom did at 8 months.

10:10 Minority spotted in the crowd, may just have been Italian.

10:10 There’s John McCain. When he shows up its instant charisma

10:12 Definitely was a minority–I think he’s Indian

9:29 Wow, look at all those women.  I’m proud to be in such an inclusive party.  Male, Female, Baptist, Southern Baptist, if you’re an evangelical you’ll find room under our big tent.

9:31 There’s something about her voice that reminds me of the movie Fargo, but most Alaskans don’t have that kind of accent.

9:33 Wow, I didn’t reallize McCain made that “he’d rather lose an election than a war” statement a year ago.

9:34 Hmm, she said “there’s a time to campaign and a time to put our country first”.  I suppose if I was a reporter my followup would be “are you campaigning now or putting your country first?”

9:35 Its none of our business, but were her children named after sled dogs or something. Trig, Tack, Bristol?  What’s wrong with American names like Ronald or Nate?

9:38 Wow! She pledged to be an advocate for special needs kids.  I wonder if all home schools are going to have to be handicapped accessible now?

9:42 Why don’t people think that being mayor of a town of 5,000 isn’t good experience for being President of the United States?

9:48 Ted Stephens and Palin did a great job on cleaning up Alaska and deserve credit for that.

9:50 Defeating the bridge to nowhere is such an accomplishment.  When she ran for governor she ran in support of it so it couldn’t have been easy for her to change.

9:57 Wow!  Obama advocated Miranda Rights for Terrorists?  Why isn’t that in the MSM?

10:01 McCain was smart enough to hire the people who attacked him in the 2000 primary

10:05 I wonder why she waited so long to mention he was a POW. That’s the A material.

10:06 I love when they pan the crowd. Cindy loved this speech

10:08 Wow, Bristol is showing more at 5 months than her mom did at 8 months.

10:10 Minority spotted in the crowd, may just have been Italian.

10:10 There’s John McCain. When he shows up its instant charisma

10:12 Definitely was a minority–I think he’s Indian

John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin as Vice-President is exciting news.  With McCain turning 72 today it made sense that he would choose a young VP to assist him in the day to day operations at the White House from meeting with foreign dignitaries, to meeting with oil company officials, to reminding him to take his medication.

What is so special about the Palin pick is what it says about McCain.  While Biden's experience showed Obama's inexperience liability, picking somebody with even less experience than Obama shows that McCain has full confidence in the ability of himself and his lobbiests to lead.

With McCain's own daughters reaching marrying age, it must be gratifying for him to know that they will have Aunt Sarah looking out for them if any federally employed male breaks their little hearts.

What McCain may not have reallized is that by picking a woman they may have some extra credibility with disaffected Hillary supporters who are tired of fighting for equal pay and other rights and would like to have a woman President when McCain passes.  Well done John.

At a speech to the Urban League John McCain shocked many hoping for education reform by calling teacher training to rigorous and insisting that in his administration anybody who wants to teach will have a job waiting for them.

“You can be a Nobel Laureate and not qualify to teach in most public schools today because they don’t have all the proper credits in educational theory or methodology,” McCain told his audience who sat so intent on his message that the remained enraptured and silent.

This is an injustice that needs to stop.  If those 10 or so education classes are stopping our Nobel Laureates from moving into the classroom, we need to make those classes easier.  It is well known that in most universities a huge number of students begin as education majors before the rigorous class work eventually weeds out those who can’t hack it who settle in those majors that lead to careers that pay a living wage like medicine, business, or the sciences.  Surely, teaching credentials shouldn’t be this hard to come by.

We all want the best teachers for our kids and for that reason we must make it easier to go into teaching.  If Nobel Laureates can’t hack a year of taking education classes what hope do the rest of us have?  Let’s start making this certification easier so we can get more Nobel Laureates and other learned people in front of our kids.

Following a week in which Barack Obama was both praised and attacked from the pulpit by Catholic Priests The Catholic League is now attacking Obama for which priests he associates with.  In the invocation at the New YorkState Republican Party Dinner, Monsignor Jim Lisante mocked Obama.  On the same day video surfaced of Father Michael Phleger preaching at Obama’s church mocking Hillary Clinton. Obama immediately condemmed the remarks and Phleger apologized, however the Catholic League sees things differently.

The Catholic League who is sort of the Catholic equivalent of the Justice League, but without superpowers.  “Why is it that of all the wonderful Catholic priests in the Chicago Archdiocese, Obama long ago chose Pfleger to hang with?” Catholic League President Bill Donohue said in a statement. “Truth be known, Pfleger has a very troubling history.”

With such a troubling history it almost seems like there should be some kind of authority that could discipline and remove bad priests.  Unfortunately, if you’re looking for discipline or a hierarchical structure the Catholic Church is the wrong place.

Members of the Catholic League also found it troubling that in his public life Obama has done nothing to tackle issues of Canon Law such as the ordination of women or married priests.  Obama likewise has a lackluster record on doing anything to prevent the church sexual abuse scandal of recent years.  Nor has Obama distanced himself from controversial church practices of the past such as indulgences, the inquisition, and perceived anti-semitism.

With Obama clearly unwilling to take on issues such as these which are important to Catholics there can be no doubt he will be stung hard by their votes in the Fall.  I have never been a big fan of Papists myself, but I find myself totally agreeing with them in this case.

In the Michigan primary, Hillary Clinton devestated Barrack Obama by taking 55% of the votes on January 15th.  Obama did so poorly that his name wasn’t even included on the ballot.  Today the Democrat Rules Committee will be meeting to decide how many of Michigan’s delegates should be seated and how many should go to each candidate.

What is astoninishing is Clinton’s recent Michigan collapse.  It is possible that as her name was the only one on the ballot she took Michigan’s support for granted, but the newest numbers show that Obama’s support has grown by over 40%.  According to the latest Rasmussen Poll shows McCain beating Obama in the state 43-42 and with a 45-42 lead over Clinton.   Obama is viewed favorably by 50% of the state’s voters compared to 47% for Clinton.  48% of Michigan votes believe Obama is the stronger candidate while 41% believe Clinton in.

So the big question remains what happenned?  Senator Clinton’s collapse from the primary where she so thoroughly demolished undeclared led myself and many others to believe she was untouchable in Michigan.

I hope a break from the usual political conversation to talk about  the NBA’s Western Conference finals is OK.  The Lakers beat the Spurs 4 games to 1 to become Conference Champions.  However, this injustice must not be allowed to stand.  The NBA needs to award the Western Conference title to the Spurs because they have the best chance of beating the Eastern Conference Champs.  Furthermore, if David Stern and the NBA do not let the Spurs represent the West I will not watch the finals.

1.  The Spurs have more experience in the finals - The Spurs have been in the finals in 3 of the last 5 years.  They know what it takes to win.  The Lakers will have to learn how to win.

2. The Lakers rely on a running game - The running game is a fickle style which is usually not successful in the playoffs.  The Spurs have a better half court game.  ESPN acknowledged this in picking the Spurs to beat the Lakers 4 games to 2 http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?page=ScoutingSpursLakers

2.  All fouls should count - At the end of Game 4, Brett Barry of the Spurs was bumped by the Lakers Derrek Fisher and no foul was called.  After the game the NBA apologized for the non-foul.  The Spurs lost the game 93-91, but if the foul had been called Barry is an 82% free throw shooter.  He would have made the shots and the Spurs would have won.  This game must be awarded to the Spurs.

3. Spur fans will not support the Lakers - Los Angeles is a team with fans all over the country.  These fans love basketball and will watch the finals no matter who is in it.  The Spurs are from a smaller city in Texas, if the Spurs are eliminated their fans will not watch the finals.

In the interest of fairness, the Spurs must be crowned Western Champs.  I hope David Stern will act before things get ugly. Anyway, that’s my sport rant.  Now I can get back to discussing politics.