Notes from the campaign trail

" She understands the energy issues better than anybody I know in Washington, D.C., and she understands Alaska is right next to Russia. She understands that. Look, Sen. Obama's never visited south of our border. I mean, please."

This was John McCain's response to ABC's Charles Gibson when questioned about Palin having not obtained a passport until last year, while America is dealing with an insurgent Russia and the current war on terror.  Karl Rove, citing George Bush's foreign policy experience in dealing with relations between Texas and Mexico, originally coined this idea. Are they honestly taking notes from the Bush campaign? Yet, even with her close proximity to Russia, Palin hasn't visited the country, though she has traveled to Kuwait. Thanks for the geography lesson. 

Lipstickgate '08

Lipstick has played a larger role in this year's campaign than some might have expected. Conflict has erupted between both parties about two quotes taken completely out of context.

"The only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick"- Sarah Palin

"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig."- Barack Obama

Shortly after Obama made this statement, the Republican Party demanded an apology claiming the remark showed Obama's sexism. It seems to be quite a stretch to relate these two comments to one another, but many in the GOP were quick to jump on the defensive. If you actually take the time to dissect this metaphor it is apparent that Palin would not be the pig, but the lipstick, and the Republican's policy would be the pig. It was later reported that John McCain used the same adage in a speech about Hillary Clinton's Health Care plan, without repercussion. This is just another attempt to distract from the issues at hand.