Two quick thoughts.

First, I have mentioned elsewhere that the pro-choice moderate Republicans that I know well, especially wealthy men, have turned on McCain. Tonight they heard him press buttons - on Columbian Free Trade, school choice, "qualifications" being paramount for judges - he has not pressed before. It was also interesting to see the Luntz group on Fox. They all seemed to think Obama won; but then the men (who thought he won) said it doesn't matter, Obama is an empty suit and they don't trust him; and then the women said they were more inclined to support Obama. That suits my theory, actually; Hillary-ites are a lost cause for McCain, but the men are still reachable.

And speaking of men, as a man, I thought this was a pretty testosterone charged performance for McCain. There are very few people out there who are going to match up well with McCain's eclectic ideology - how many people do you know who passionately believe in bipartisanship while detesting ethanol subsidies? But tonight, it didn't matter. McCain the man shone through. It's not exactly likeability, either, although there was enough of that. For me, it was more like respect. A lot of respect. This was the POW; the Andrew Jackson who detests corruption even if he rarely identifies it; the guy who waited eight years for his chance and is now fighting as best he can to claim a prize he clearly wants.

And dont' forget. Zogby this morning at 4. Gallup likely voters at 3. McCain can still win. Tonight was the first time I really *wanted* him to win, for his own sake (apart from my oft-stated admiration for his running mate).

Two quick thoughts.

First, I have mentioned elsewhere that the pro-choice moderate Republicans that I know well, especially wealthy men, have turned on McCain. Tonight they heard him press buttons - on Columbian Free Trade, school choice, "qualifications" being paramount for judges - he has not pressed before. It was also interesting to see the Luntz group on Fox. They all seemed to think Obama won; but then the men (who thought he won) said it doesn't matter, Obama is an empty suit and they don't trust him; and then the women said they were more inclined to support Obama. That suits my theory, actually; Hillary-ites are a lost cause for McCain, but the men are still reachable.

And speaking of men, as a man, I thought this was a pretty testosterone charged performance for McCain. There are very few people out there who are going to match up well with McCain's eclectic ideology - how many people do you know who passionately believe in bipartisanship while detesting ethanol subsidies? But tonight, it didn't matter. McCain the man shone through. It's not exactly likeability, either, although there was enough of that. For me, it was more like respect. A lot of respect. This was the POW; the Andrew Jackson who detests corruption even if he rarely identifies it; the guy who waited eight years for his chance and is now fighting as best he can to claim a prize he clearly wants.

And dont' forget. Zogby this morning at 4. Gallup likely voters at 3. McCain can still win. Tonight was the first time I really *wanted* him to win, for his own sake (apart from my oft-stated admiration for his running mate).

Quite funny. No, that was not my intent.

I have now had two good political laughs today. The first came from reading Jesse Jackson's statement that Barack has a secret plan to clear the "Zionists" out of Washington influence. You gotta love the south side of Chicago. Jesse. Wright. Farrakhan. Barack. They're all the same, honestly.

If you know anything about the South Side, you know how typical this sentiment really is.

I'm not laughing at anti-semitism, by the way, but at the quite predictable disclaimers from Team Obama. That's not the Jesse we thought we knew! Yeah, right. Good luck, Israel, under President Obama.

Glad to hear Jackson repudiated the Zionist rant. Was he standing in Hymietown (as he calls New York) when he did it?

Yes, with Barack we must resort to dreaded associations, in part. Barack gave -- what was it? -- more than $20,000 to Wright's church in 2007. This was long after the various toasts to Farrakhan and pleas for the Palestinians -- the favorite cause of Pat Buchanan, Jesse Jackson, and every other closet anti-semite in the country. I'm not saying the Palestinians don't have a case, don't get me wrong. I'm just saying, look at the big picture and don't let the election cloud your thinking. Too much. :)

As for the Chicago thing, many blacks there are virulently anti-semetic. If anything, Farrakhan and Friends are the moderates. I am sure you could make a case that while Barack was swimming around in Jeremiah's cesspool of paranoia, he somehow missed the lessons on the Jews. If that makes you feel better, more power to you.

Hey, good to hear from you. I'm a guy, have always said so.

Some people are calling me all kinds of names for my put down of Jesse Jackson. I hate to say it, but the most hair raising anti-semetic rants I have ever heard in my life all came from blacks in or around Chicago. And, the most celebrated black anti-semites in the country, Jesse "Hymietown" Jackson and Louis Farrakhan, are both from that neighborhood.

I'm just having a little fun here, noting that Jesse went "off message" and boasted how Barack wants to stick it to the Jews. You know what they say about the definition of a "gaffe" - it's when a politician accidently states the truth. I have no idea whether Jesse has Barack's ear, but you do have to wonder. Assuming, that is, it makes any difference to you whether the "Zionists" get cleared out of Washington by President Obama.