A much better photo from last week’s rally in Battle Creek, this one taken by my mom. Nice!

Well, I caught the tail end of the speech by McCain. All that excitement they had last night? Gone. Palin gave a pretty good speech, albeit full of lies, but McCain’s was just flat-out bad. The good news? Football! I can’t believe it but football season is here, and while I missed the Giants-Redskins game I am fired up to spend Sundays watching men clash violently with one another again. It will help me to take my mind off of the Cubs swoon and the potential Zambrano debacle that is going on. Come on! Let’s get it together!

UPDATE:

I guess I gave McCain too much credit. Of course he lied. Never mind.

That’s why it falls by the wayside at the RNC. No wonder they liked her speech so much–it was full of lies, exaggerations and smug sarcasm. And not just her speech, but Romney’s, Huckabee’s and others were full of shit. For example:

At her first press conference, why not ask her why she said that Obama has never passed a single reform, when he passed the 2007 Ethics Reform, described by many as the most sweeping package of its kind since Watergate. Of course, she doesn’t know. She was given this speech. But she should be asked to respond to the question of why she said something patently untrue to the entire country.

Palin lied about her opposition to the “Bridge to Nowhere,” about Obama’s tax plan, about the gas pipeline, about earmarks…Republicans really eat this shit up! Mike Huckabee stated that Palin “got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States.” That one, as the Tribune notes, is “a whopper”:

Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor’s election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

In the real world,the Bush administration keeps following Obama’s lead as far as foreign policy goes, this time in Pakistan. As Sullivan points out:

It’s also a policy - like the withdrawal timetable and like talking to Iran - in which Barack Obama was ahead of the Bush administration. If his judgment is so faulty, why do the wiser heads in the Bush administration keep following it?

Has McCain or his smug running mate come up with anything of substance, or is it all going be whining about media and sarcastic attacks? Talk about a vapid campaign.

I would live-blog the RNC but I just turned it on and this woman who is speaking is so goddamn boring I don’t think I can stand it. Apparently the crowd agrees because all you can hear is the murmur of white people and occasional smatterings of applause. Her name is…Carly Fiorina? She keeps saying “I know John McCain” and follows it with the most inane sleep-inducing crap you’ve ever heard.

Also, the Cubs game is not on my television tonight, so I can’t watch that either. This, my only real free night of the week and I am reduced to this? Pathetic. Oh, wait! Here’s a black guy! Where’d they find him? Better yet, where’s the Tecate?

“We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby…”

The moment that I heard the word “decision” in regards to Sarah Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy, I thought, “hmmm, that sounds an awful lot like ‘choice.’” It appears that, after some consideration, she made a choice to keep the baby! What a great thing she was able to do: think about and then make a decision as to what she wanted to do about her very personal situation. It’s so…how do you say…American? Free. The way it should be.

While the Republicans fall over themselves tonight cheering Ms. Palin, let’s not forget that their platform–and indeed, her platform–is to take away that choice, the very choice that her daughter has been allowed to make, and that all teenage girls are allowed to make, in the face of a very difficult situation. How very un-American that would be.

Neil Steinberg, in today’s Sun-Times:

This week the religious right, with crashing swiftness, has rediscovered privacy, at least when it comes to the pregnancy of newly named Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s unwed 17-year-old daughter, Bristol.

“We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy,” said Palin and her husband, Todd, in a joint statement.

Why sure. Of course we will. That is the decent thing to do. But is it too much to ask that Palin — and John McCain, and all those so moral that they are overflowing with morality and need to impose a little of their excess morality upon everyone else — that they in turn respect OUR daughters’ privacy and let them work out THEIR own personal and gynecological lives as THEY see fit? Apparently it is.

I forgot to tell you: Obama announced that in light of John McCain’s pick for VP, Sarah Palin, he decided that I was more than experienced enough to be his VP, so Joe agreed to sit this one out. I think we look rather good together. Obama-Doom ‘08!

Just got a spam email that made me laugh out loud:

Palin Already in Trouble: Can’t Recall How Many Igloos She Owns

The rest of the story–the real part–is equally hilarious. And cynical. And hypocritical. But we’ll have time for that later. For now, it’s just funny.

I was in Michigan for the weekend and on Sunday we found out that Obama was coming to Battle Creek, which is about an hour or so from where we were, so a couple of calls were made, connections met, and we landed tickets for the event. By knocking loud and beeping the horn.

Mom, Dad, Wife and I drove out there, to a 6,000 seat baseball field in Battle Creek, and we were lucky to be sitting at all. The sun was pounding, even at 6pm when we got there, and Obama (and Biden) wouldn’t come out until after 8pm.

The speeches were good, Biden kept it short and Obama reproduced some of the stuff from his DNC speech. But it was all casual, walking around with the microphone, no teleprompter. The man can talk. There was a lot of chatter where we sat, in an “Amen Corner” on the first base side. “That’s right!” “Uh huh.” “You said it!” Oh yeah!”

I moved down slightly closer after the speech as they walked around shaking hands. Here’s Obama waving as he leaves.

Red skies in Brown Stadium, Battle Creek, MI.

The reports said that the crowd was around 17 or 18,000, which isn’t too bad a draw for Obama/Biden in purple Michigan (apparently 17K is a record-size crowd for McCain).

This is what it looked like over here last night. My Pimp glass full of Tecate, Obama on the TV, and Izzy out cold on the couch.

Isabella mocking history:

McCain is picking Sarah Palin? On the count of three, conservatives everywhere, repeat after me: “Experience? When did we ever say anything about experience?”

You were a great shouter in print, that’s for sure, stomping your feet when owners, coaches, players and fans didn’t agree with you. It was an entertaining show. Good luck getting one of your 1,000-word rants on the air… On your way out, don’t let the door bang you on the ass.
Your former colleague,

Roger Ebert

- Roger Ebert’s Open Letter to Jay Mariotti, who resigned from the Sun-Times, stating that newspapers are dead.

It’s another night of live-blogging, maybe some pizza, perhaps a Tecate or two, who knows? Right now I am not watching channel 11 as they blabber on about nothing, especially David Brooks. Instead I’m reading an article the Nitz just sent me on Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel, someone whose music has taken up a part of my life recently. Great, interesting story.

Cubs game tonight too, and as an added bit of excitement they have installed instant replay, starting tonight. That was unexpected. Or, I didn’t know they were even thinking of doing that. Well, game at 7, Obama later, and I have consulted with my D-Town correspondent and hope to have a full report tomorrow on the goings-on there. I’ll be back when things start heating up!

Whoa! Almost forgot, the Bears are playing too! But it’s the final preseason game, and as I flip over to it, it’s already 10-0 Cleveland. So that’s not looking good. They’re a little…troubled this year, the Bears. Back to the DNC and Tim Kaine is on quoting gospel stuff. Alright. Whatever, dude. Now he’s speaking Spanish. Hmmm, time for a Tecate?

Bill Richardson. Yeah! Nice line on the flip-flops! Shit, bases juiced for the Phillies, already 1-0. Whew, strikeout! Nice escape job there by Dempster. Richardson is speaking Spanish too! I’ve got two cats around me, laptop on my lap, remote control by my side. I can’t get up! Where’s my lovely pregnant wife when I need her to get me a beer? Stevie Wonder! Now Grossman throws a TD, it’s 10-7 Cleveland. OK, I just ordered a pizza from Father & Son, cheese and sausage, free with 20 cards. Yeah, we eat there a lot.

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie! This laptop is hot and I need to get up. Who’s fired up and ready to go? Not these cats. They’re flopped out all over me. I missed Clinton last night, and Biden, the whole thing. Sounds like they did a good job. I was busy with Rock and Roll.

Al Gore! You go, guy. Shoulda been president. We really missed out on that one. I’ll never forgive Florida for that. They just showed that dude from “Lost” at Mile High Stadium (whatever it’s called). Jin? Pizza arrives and boy, is it delicious. That was quick. Gore finishes and David Brooks, like the tool he is, says that he (Gore) blew it back in 2000. The other guy in the studio says that Gore got however million more votes than Bush so I don’t know how he blew it exactly. Nice.

10-10 at halftime, Cubs still down 1-0. And Brooks continues to blabber. Now it’s Eisenhower’s daughter. I don’t know if she’s Republican but she’s dressed like one. She’s got the hair, the earrings and red dress, the whole uniform. Yep, they just said that she was a lifelong Republican until this year. Alright then, welcome. Now change your outfit and smoke a joint. Have a beer, for crissakes! Alright, I will!

Here’s Biden! As I pour my Tecate…Alright, Cubs tie it up! 1-1, and a quick check on the meaningless Bears game and it’s 13-10, they’re up! Things are turning our way! I thought this might be lame but these regular people speaking are all pretty good. Certainly no lack of energy. Well, this former Republican Barney Smith was lagging and then he pulled out the Smith Barney-Barney Smith line and the place breaks up. Funny.

Cubs go down 2-1 but it’s still early. Make that 3-1. Meanwhile, getting dark in Denver, who’s next? A commercial on PBS. Shit, 4-1. Come on, let’s get it together, Cubs! Now here’s Durbin. Let’s do this! Before he comes on I was looking around and I see that David Duchovny has entered rehab for sex addiction! Californication! That’s funny, I love that show, I’ve been watching it on Netflix.

Here’s the feel-good video. Just thinking about something: I heard that these “Christian folk” had been praying for bad weather in Denver for this outdoor ceremony; by all appearances it is the most perfect night. So just, yeah, fuck you, “Christian-type” people who don’t practice Christian-like behavior. And, oh yeah, god doesn’t listen to you!

Well, I don’t think I can write for a while…wow. Awesome. Huge.

OK. Whoo! Whoa. Yeah! The speech ends and despite the cheesy-ass song they play–what is that, some country redneck shit?–I am truly moved and inspired by this. That was a great speech. No stone unturned. Bold and full of details, but yet not at all lacking in excitement. Fantastic. During the speech I flipped on the laptop to show the Cubs game and saw that Ramirez hit a grand slam, but I never could turn away. Now it’s over and the Cubs win again, 6-4! I see that the Bears won too, there’s a surprise.

Some highlights:

The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don’t tell me we can’t uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.

I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.

And this is just perfect, regarding MLK’s “I have a dream” speech:

The men and women who gathered there could’ve heard many things. They could’ve heard words of anger and discord. They could’ve been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead - people of every creed and color, from every walk of life - is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one.

As for those who hear anger and discord, you only need to look to The Corner at NRO:

There’s a fine line between indignant and angry, and Obama is swerving back and forth all over it.

The crowd is loving this Fighting Barack, but several times he’s seemed angry to the point of stridency.

Instead of “I Have a Dream” … I have a grievance.

It’s like they’re a parody of the past, except that this is their Now. And John McCain is what they’re stuck with. Sucks to be them. For another view, Andrew Sullivan sums it up:

I’ve said it before - months and months ago. I should say it again tonight. This is a remarkable man at a vital moment. America would be crazy to throw this opportunity away. America must not throw this opportunity away.

I was glad to hear Barack Obama stand by his White Sox while dissing the Wrigley fans as being “not serious.” Really. It’s much better than, say, being born in Chicago and then running for the Senate in New York and wearing a Yankee hat. He’s a South Sider, so he should stick by his team. Anything else would be pandering. Daley is a Sox fan too, and doesn’t try to pander to Cubs fans. He shouldn’t. It’s just sports anyway.

But of course Obama is wrong. As another Sox fan, Richard Roeper of the Sun-Times points out, “make no mistake, they’ll die inside if this team doesn’t make it to the 2008 World Series.” He’s talking about me, and lots of other people. It has never been about the “experience” so much as it is about the team. Whether it’s opening day in the cold of April or game 7 against the Marlins in the cold of October, I am there, and yes, dying on the inside, sadly. Hot chicks, yes; cold beer, yes; awesome park, yes. But what can I say, I’ve watching and going to games since I was, I don’t know, 7 or something. It’s never been a pickup bar for me. Sadly. Not once!

But I understand why people would say these things; there’s a lot of meatheads that go to sports games, and by meatheads I mean assholes who are trying to impress their girlfriends or frat buddies. I’ve even seen this at, yep, Comiskey Park, or Cell Phone Field, whatever you call it these days. When Obama says that they’re not serious at Wrigley, maybe he means that they fill up the park even when the team sucks, unlike the White Sox, who had trouble filling it when they were good (maybe they still do, I have no idea).

Whatever. Much worse to hear Derrek Lee agree with him about Cubs fans. He should be pandering a little. But at least he’s smart enough to be on Obama’s side:

According to Lee, politics is a topic that seldom is broached in the clubhouse. He talks politics with the trainers in the training room, but didn’t know if the Cubs who vote are predominantly Republican.”I think some guys don’t even know what they are,” Lee said with a laugh. “But yeah, they’re probably mostly Republicans.”

Big dumb jocks. Big surprise.

This is tough work. Cubs on WGN and Hillary Clinton about to speak at the DNC. I’ve opened a Tecate after a delicious taco dinner and settled in for the fireworks. Cubs tie it up, again, on a bases-loaded walk and then another walk gives them the lead! Still juiced, no outs. Let’s finish these Pirates off! Base hit for Reed Johnson, 10-8, still nobody out!

Two outs now and the Montana governor (I think) is revving things up before Clinton. Whoa! Soto clears the bases with a three-run double! 13-8! Nice. Fontenot follows with a double and it’s looking good, 14-8 Cubs. Damn, this Tecate tastes good! Cubs finally get out and we head to the 9th bottom of the 8th with a solid lead.

Now, the Hillary video has begun. Very orange tonight, she is. Huge, non-stop ovation. Glad the Cubs took care of business so I can watch this! No way. No how. No McCain! Did she just say doody? Oh, duty, right. Quick flip to the Cubs and they’re up again. Good, back to HRC. Sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits! Ha!

Poo-tin. You go, girl. She’s good. Shoulda been VP, I’m thinking right about now. Bill is bursting with pride. Have the Cubs won yet? I don’t know, I can’t turn away. Nice Twin Cities shot! Can’t tell McCain and Bush apart! Could use another Tecate right about now. And so my lovely pregnant wife gets up and gets me one! Right as the speech ends.

I instantly get a text from someone who had written to me this morning, saying that the Clintons are going to blow this like Nader did. Now, he says “great speech.” I tell him he worries too much. Then he responds: “I’m a Cub fan and a Democrat. I’m accustomed to blowing it whenever we’re ahead.”

The Cubs! Did they win? Looks like it, news is on channel 9. A quick check and yes, 14-9, Cubs win! A good night all around, in D-Town and C-Town.