I might be inviting trouble with this, opening up nastiness, if anyone bothers to read it.

The word hero is one that lends itself to a very loose interpretation in our times. It is something that very emotionally charged quite often. One would very likely describe as hero someone who has died in 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq to their parents as a way consolation. It is because of this kind of usage that it mostly rings hollow in my ears, if it ever did ring with the singularity of a bell.

When I have heard at a eulogy that "He was a good man", something hits inside of me. It is as if hearing it plainly spoken, that there is simply no more fitting adjectives, and it resonates deeply.

Not to denigrate the man, but I do not believe that John McCain is a hero, due to his POW experience or otherwise. I do not believe that military service is inherently noble either, and that is not to say that it must be considered the polar opposite either.

Those who fight and die are not fighting for our freedom either, nor have they in any wars in my lifetime. Those fights are in our streets, and in our courts. Admitting this in no way cheapens the sacrifices on the part of military personnel.

I think that we need to carefully analyze these things that have been the root from which much political debate in this country has been centered. By doing so I believe we can construct new frames that not just counter the current ones, but change the debate at an intellectual level and appeal just as strong emotionally to the electorate at large.

We need to quickly clear the fog from the myth of John McCain so everyone can see the man John McCain. I for one do not believe that he is a good man.

So for the record I am not a Democrat, I really never cared for the party, I'll spare the reasons.  I am fortunate because I live in Oakland, so I can vote third party most of the time and it'll be fine. (also because you can talk politics with most folks and disagree AND fundamentally agree, I guess there is a lot of mutual respect, except for Michael Savage living within walking distance F**K!)

Why do I tell you this? No reason no relevance, I just live in a better place than you.

Anyhow. 

The squabbling of this primary is just, well, stupid. Neither candidate is ideal and no candidate ever is at the national level. Neither candidate is going to be that bad as long as we have a working majority in congress either.

I would most definitely prefer Obama, however he is not the messiah, and he does play spin, target group message, character assassination politics. If you haven't noticed, then you are Cult-like (or you may have missed it because he is really good at it)

And Clinton is disingenuous, and she does play win at all stakes politics, she learned through survival. If you haven't noticed, then you are Hilbot like ( and you really have to have noticed that, right? Maybe not?)

Ferraro wasn't racist she was stupid and did say some truth, trivial,stupid but true. Wright, a few factual errors aside, his message was correct from what I have seen.

Both sides have used things such as this and manipulated it to score points, that is politics, gotta break eggs to make omlettes, yada yada. If we run with it they will run with it, blogs are quite often ahead of and shaping the MSM narratives.

A Democratic president with a Democratic congress are tools not leaders( that is not meant to be a pun) What I mean is, Democratic politicians are more likely to hear the will of the people and if not bent to the will of the people. The other cats not so much. We need smart advocates not leaders, and it is on us to organize not just cast ballots. If you are looking for leadership, good luck with that.

So please change the narrative, I read here because it has posts of some great analysis, and some witty ass snark. This has rapidly changed. Views from formerly well reasoned posters are morphing into petty, inaccurate worse than FOX vitriol. Please start with the brains again, so I can read and not post quasi -kumbaya come together critique.

Lastly, the McCain stuff. Real simple, he is not morally and ethically upstanding, he is not genuine, he is not a straight shooter, he is not a military expert, he is not a populist. Please don't post anything to the contrary, research for yourself. If you are going to vote for him in protest you are an, I don't really know how say in a civil way, idiot.

Pontifically yours