Gray Matter

Friday, August 29, 2008

A Good Week

Is it possible that the Democrats have actually pulled off a flawless convention and nominated a terrific team that offers passion, experience, vision and conviction?

Each night seemed perfected choreographed to convey a particular message designed to unify the party and demonstrate to the nation that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the right choice on Election Day in November.

And the news today that John McCain has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, a social conservative, apparently to bolster his support among the party's base who have little love for the former maverick, adds piquancy to the strength of the Democratic ticket.

The Ted Kennedy/Michelle Obama show on Monday, followed by Hillary's terrific performance on Tuesday, and then Bill and Joe's one-two punch on Wednesday were all impressive raising the stakes for the main event on Thursday.

And Barack Obama did not disappoint.

He hit all the right notes, delivering a great speech with all the poetry his supporters have grown accustomed to while also providing plenty of specifics that his critics have charged he has glossed over. Never mind that his standard stump speech has always been chock full of policy specifics that have been essential to his appeal.

But most importantly, Obama took the fight directly to Sen. McCain, leaving no doubt that he is ready to take on the War Hero on the question of who has the ideas, the determination and the fortitude to deliver on the challenges facing our nation at this critical juncture.

Even the roll call had a dramatic, cathartic and even entertaining quality to it. When the Illinois delegation ceded its time to the New York crowd allowing Sen. Hillary Clinton to call on the convention to nominate Obama by acclamation, policy wonks everywhere were breathless.

Granted McCain deserves some credit for seizing the media's attention by naming Palin, the little known, self-described former "hockey mom." But after the buzz caused by the surprise announcement dies down independents and other undecided voters will most likely wonder why this choice should convince anyone that the nation's future is best entrusted to this team.

Wow. Whatta week. I'm still kinda breathless.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Hitting the Right Notes

My name is Ted and I'm a political junkie.

There I was captivated by the television coverage of the Democratic National Convention even though I had bills to pay, dishes to wash, and good books to read.

It was a gorgeous late summer evening and I knew I had better things to do. Heck, just leaving the house for a stroll would have been healthier for my body and soul

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Sunday, August 24, 2008

On Second Thought

Conventional Wisdom proved on the money yesterday when Barack Obama announced Joe Biden was his choice as the Democratic party's candidate for vice president.

Biden is a safe choice a) because as a two-time candidate for president he has been exhaustively vetted and his weaknesses are well-known, b) his thirty years as a Senator and foreign policy expert gives him a gravitas that many feel Obama lacks, and, perhaps most importantly, c) Biden is a proven counter-puncher who is not shy about engaging in the kind of attack that Obama has at least pretended to be above, so far.

Once elected, God willing, there is also the potential for Biden to serve as the President's consigliere, an indispensible role that can aid in the early success of the Obama administration. The most recent Democratic administrations of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton stumbled seriously out of the gate largely due to an inability (or unwillingness) to build coalitions with Congress.

Earlier, I expressed the hope that Obama would make a bolder choice, such as Colin Powell, as a demonstration of his committment to a new kind of politics. But Biden may be the best of both worlds; a good partner during the election who will effectively balance the ticket as well as seerving as a savvy and experienced vice president after the inauguration who has Obama's full faith and confidence.

The polls are tightening but you have to feel good about the chances for the Democrats. First of all, people who would never vote for Obama, because of his politics, inexperience or color, most certainly have already made up their minds. The next seventy days are about reaching the undecideds (and getting your supporters motivated enough to actually vote). Biden is a good choice in this regard, reassuring to the Hillary Clinton supporters and undecideds. But the veep choice rarely makes much of a difference. It will still be Obama's job to close the deal with the voters.

As expected, the campaign has grown uglier this past week as McCain made some ill-advised comments regarding the definition of wealthy as $5 million and up and, of course, failing to have an answer to the quesstion of how many homes he owns.

His camp has fired back that attacks on McCain's wealth reflected a repudiation of the Obama pledge to run a clean campaign (though McCain has been questioning Obama's patriotism and arguably started this mudslinging himself), declared the gloves are off and went after Obama for his "million dollar home' purchased with the help of "convicted felon" Tony Rezko.

But have no doubt that the Obama camp is comfortable in this arena. If the candidates are judged by their own words then McCain's flubs and misstatements will only reinforce his own vulnerabilities. And it is only a matter of time before somebody brings up McCain's connection to the Keating scandal in the 1980s. McCain was sanctioned for his ties to savings and loan mogul Charles Keating and his commitment to campaign finance reform is largely interpreted as his penance for that earlier screwup.

As the Olympics wind down the nation will turn its attention to Denver where the Democrats will attempt to put on a flawless display of unity. The early tribute to the Kennedys and the Clintons will give way to the coronation of Obama and Biden. It should make for entertaining viewing and hopefully no one will drop a baton.

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Friday, August 22, 2008

Only Hours Away

Barack Obama hasn’t publicly announced his choice for vice president yet.

I know because his campaign has ensured me that I will be the first to hear.

Me and the millions of others who have texted “VP” to 62262 (OBAMA).

Chances are good that he will make the announcement in the next 18 hours since The World is expecting his choice to join him at a rally in Springfield, Illinois on Saturday.

So this is my last chance to share my thoughts on the Big Choice.

The conventional wisdom has lined up behind Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who has the Washington experience and foreign policy credentials that some say are holes in the Obama resume that need to be filled.

Personally, I believe Biden would be a disappointing choice because he is too safe.

Granted, he’s run for president twice so his negatives are well-known and manageable. But the trouble is that he doesn’t bring anything that would energize the campaign.

Obama knows this choice will be analyzed and dissected more than anything he has said or done so far in the campaign. That includes his remarks about the bitterness of the working class and even his choice of pastor.

His choice needs to affirm his campaign theme of change and I don’t think Biden fits the bill.

I look for someone older and more experienced but not from the list of usual suspects.

Here is my list of eye-openers, holy-cows, and who-would-have-thoughts:

First of all, there’s Jim Webb, a first-term Senator from Virginia. CW has focused on the Commonwealth’s Gov. Tim Kaine as more likely but look at what Webb brings; decorated war hero (sound familiar?), experience at the Pentagon as an Assistant Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army, and a Republican who switched sides to become one of the most-outspoken critics of George Bush. Obama could do worse.

You have to believe that Obama is seriously considering a Republican or at least someone with a strong record of working across the aisle. While he has pledged to bring a bipartisan approach to his administration, many independents and Republicans don’t see very much to suggest that in his record.

How do you think they’d feel if Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican who has served on the Armed Services, Finance and Intelligence committees? She has earned the respect of leaders of both parties by developing a keen ability to craft legislative compromise without sacrificing principle.

But the 800 pound gorilla of long shots has got to be Colin Powell. Can you imagine?

The incredibly highly regarded career military man was dissed big time by the Bush administration. He’s made no secret of his regret about taking cooked evidence to the United Nations to make the case for war. What better way to restore his reputation than as a member of the administration whose greatest challenge will be cleaning up the mess that occurred on his watch?

Powell has said he’s not interested but come on. When a President calls on a member of the military for an assignment, no is not in the vocabulary. And this kind of invitation comes awfully close to that kind of conversation.

So there you have it. If one of these choices turn out to be right, be sure to say where you heard it first. If it turns out to be Biden or one of the other uninspiring choices bandied about by the prognosticators, well then what can I say? I’ll still support Obama but I’ll wonder if he’s truly the agent of change we are hoping for.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Eye of the Beholder

Maybe you heard that Marie Claire magazine has opined that Milwaukee is one sexy city. Apparently, our rocking lakefront and neighborhood festivals suggest that we know how to have a good time.

I won’t argue with that though the magazine didn’t bother to send anyone here to check it out. You gotta wonder if we’d have still merited the honor if a reporter had actually visited and seen the sweaty beer bellies hanging over the cutoff shorts and the hairy necks and backs.

And I don’t even want to think about the guys.

I kid, I kid!

I love Milwaukee and today it’s a happening town. The reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange is officially declared completed today, under budget and ahead of schedule! To policy wonks like me, that’s sexy!

And, of course, today is the long awaited unveiling of the Bronze Fonz sculpture along the riverfront (across from the Pabst Theater on Wells) intended to cash in on the nostalgia for Happy Days, the popular television show of the ‘70s.

Henry Winkler (the Fonz), Anson Williams (Potsie), and Cindy Williams (Shirley of Laverne and Shirley) are expected to appear at the festivities. Visitors will be treated to a little harmless fun (not to mention free custard) and a good time should be had by all.

There is no truth to the rumor that Mike Brenner has rented a plane to pull a banner declaring that “Milwaukee Has Jumped the Shark.”

The diminutive sculpture may make you wonder what all the fuss has been about.

Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of the summer, y’all. Middle of August and it hasn’t reached 90 yet.

Now that’s sexy!

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