The Best, The Worst, and the Utterly Perplexing from the 2008 Election

My best attempt at non-partisan commentary wrap-up on this election season. I'm sure there are other moments, but just a few I threw together while wasting time on a Sunday morning.

For those having trouble viewing video on my site, I'm going to always try to include url links to embedded video.

Simply The Best category:

Yes we can. Greatest speech by a political leader in the United States in the 21st Century. Certainly the greatest concession speech ever given. January 8, 2008. For the full video of the speech, go here.



From the Alaska Women Reject Palin rally in Anchorage, AK, on September 14, 2008. h/t Mudflats.


























You can't argue with the power of 18 million cracks. Despite what anyone thinks I think, I actually do think that Hillary exited this hard-fought race with dignity and grace.











"Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."
Video here.

Campbell Brown is my hero. Here she is giving her now famous "Free Sarah Palin" editorial.


Other clear winners in the media portion of this election cycle: Jack Cafferty, Rachael Maddow, and yes, Keith Olbermann. Jury still out on Chris Matthews. I have also been somewhat impressed by Pat Buchanan's ability to gain a broader, occassionally non-partisan view of reality. Jon Stewart's commentary didn't seem as biting this year as the folks on the legitimate news themselves.

Then there's The Worst. Who can forget these memorable moments? I get verklempt just thinking of these.

The hands-down winner? Or should I say the "hands-up" winners??

"Senator McCain....Do you believe in evolution?"

"Yes".

"I'm curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not believe in evolution?"

Question asked during the GOP primary debate.

For those of you scoring at home, from left to right that's Brownback, Huckabee and Tancredo with their stupidity showing hands raised. Video here.

"Our opponent … is someone who sees America it seems as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." Sarah Palin stump speech, various locations.

The Ashley Todd racism incident that wasn't.

Who can forget the mocking of community organizing that went on at the Republican Convention?
This goes beyond offensive in my book. Rudy Guiliani is a dick.

Head-scratching Moments:

Video here.

KATIE COURIC: "You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?"

SARAH PALIN: "That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land boundary that we have with, uh, Canada. It's funny that a comment like that was kinda made to, char..., I don't know, you know... reporters."

KATIE COURIC: "Mocked."

SARAH PALIN: "Yeah. Mocked. I guess that's the word. Yah."

KATIE COURIC: "Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials."

SARAH PALIN: "Well, it certainly does because our..our next-door neighbors are foreign countries there in the state that I am the executive of."

I'd go on, but honestly, I find it too painful and I was trying to be non-partisan.

Pat Buchannan flip-flops on Sarah Palin selection. My favorite part is where he says "If I was a Republican I would have been disheartened going to my convention if they had chosen an good man, a nice guy, in Gov. Pawlenty, we wouldn't even be talking about this."

IF he was a Republican?

McChicken Little: The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling

Ok, only a quick note this morning because I have to teach and I can't find the slides the kids are supposed to use.

John McCain has suggested that both presidential candidates suspend their campaigns and cancel the debate this Friday to concentrate on passing a bailout for the beleaguered financial markets (i.e., Wall Street). He is actually saying he's not going to show up for the debate unless some bailout is passed by Friday.

*crickets*

If you are very, very quiet, I think you can hear John McCain blink. How do you feel about a candidate that wants the world to stop so he can concentrate? On a crisis (supposedly) that no one has *IMO* given a strong and compelling reason the American public should shoulder. Weigh in with your opinion here.

I guess we should stop the world for McCain, because, you know, a president might not have to deal with the pressures of two wars, suicide bombings in Israel and Pakistan, the escalation of a new Cold War, your daughter's illegitimate pregnancy and underage drinking problems, and an economic crisis of epic proportions at the same time.

Ok, IMO, John McCain has already suspended his campaign by his own failure to have his ticket communicate with the American public to the legitimate news media. But let's give the old man some slack. The youthful running mate isn't much help in the economic department either. An interview between Sarah Palin and Katie Couric emerged last night. She doesn't think America is interested in Obama's approach to this crisis? Is she daft? And the McCain ticket doesn't want to help homeowners who are caught between the cross-hairs because they made bad decisions and doing so might help predatory lenders. She can't even offer even one specific example of McCain's pushing for more regulation on anything without "getting back to ya". Spoiler warning: it's painful to watch. She just keeps repeating the ticket's idiotic lies and rambles incoherently.

Another video emerged of this witch-hunting African preacher praying for Sarah Palin to win the governor's house. Hat tip to Mudflats, where you can find breaking and facinating updates on the Troopergate investigation.

Happy Thursday!