If this crisis holds the front pages . . .

It is hard to see McCain coming up with a gamechanger that can reverse Obama's momentum.

He's powerless.

Battle of the Muppets

Though Sarah Palin has been getting all the attention, it is important to note that both VP candidates are complete dingbats.

Remember: Joe Biden is a man who once plagiarised Neil Kinnock.

Given the professionalism of the two presidential candidates, the VP debate looks like the best bet for gaffe-hunters.

Would a gaffe from one of the 2 dingbats have an impact? What about a really big gaffe, an exhibition of utter incompetence?

Can Obama bring a new type of polititics?

The evidence against is considerable:

1. His campaign
- dirty enough to be fundamentally old school

2. His past
- the manner of his rise to the State Senate in Chicago suggests a man very comfortable with realpolitik

BUT . . .

It is possible to argue that the only way he could get to where he has is by respecting the norms of the current corrupt system.

Alternatively . . .

Is a new politics even possible? Or is asking for it like asking for a new human nature?

p.s. The bail-out has failed. What happens now? How bad does this get? Do we all die imminently?

"It's hard to reach across the aisle when you're so far to the left"

McCain is right - bipartisanship relies on a certain amount of common ground. But then McCain should know better than most that sometimes conviction requires you to simply ignore opposing cries.

Will the real Barack Obama (when the right time comes) stand up

Christopher Hitchens has penned a provocative piece on Obama:

"Why is Obama so vapid, hesitant and gutless?"
http://www.slate.com/id/2200587/

Despite being an Obama supporter, I agree with a lot of Hitchens says. Obama has not campaigned with the independence and boldness that those who read his writings are familiar with.

He is politically savvy. He knows that an bold campaign, while impressing some, would alienate many. So he has played it safe, often tediously safe.

Perhaps the bizarre truth that emerges is this: The only way for a radical to get into the White House is for him to pretend that he isn't.

We have two strong characters but we will not get a strong president

If Barack Obama wins . . .

Much of his ambitious agenda will be scuppered by spending constraints. The government was pretty broke before it started trying to save the world economy.

If John McCain wins . . .

He will have a Democratic Congress and Senate to work with. Best of luck trying to work some of his bipartisan magic with some pissed off Democrats.

p.s.

Why has Obama asked to change the topic of the 1st debate to foreign policy? This is the debate most people watch. Why not stick with the economy as the original schedule had it?
It's both the issue people care most about and the issue on which McCain is a true dingbat.

Sometimes less is more

It's generally a good idea to stick to your strengths. Which is why it is interesting that McCain, a self-confessed economic muppet, has decided to take lots of dramatic standpoints on the economic crisis. And he has ended up looking . . . a muppet.

In comparison to McCain's blustering, Obama has looked calm and logical.
Presidential?
Let's hope for further blustering at Friday's debate.