What Stood Out This Week - 4/13-4/19

I'm a bit of a political junkie, as B&E readers well know, but even I'm getting burned out on this here election, especially when it's been so long since we've held a vote. I'm keeping an eye on things, of course, but I think maybe I'm suffering from Primary Fatigue. So let's see What Stood Out This Week...

The Republican

John McCain released his tax forms. He won't be releasing his wife's. After all, she's the real money in the family. That shit wouldn't have flown with Teresa Heinz Kerry. Actually, I don't really remember. Did that shit fly with THK? I think she released her tax records, but I don't know for sure. Good thing I'm writing about it! I've got all the answers!

The Democrats

Barack Obama turned in a crappy performance at the debate, and now the debate seems be more about the debate than the substance thereof. Which I guess is the point: There was very little substance in this debate. It was the only prime-time, network debate of the election thus far, and Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolouponopolousponopoulous spent the first hour asking about stupid shit: Reverend Wright, comments about "bitter" voters, sniper fire in Bosnia, flag pins on the lapel (or lack thereof), elitism.

So Hillary did well in the debate, and Obama didn't. So Obama's all, "Hillary was right in her element in a debate of this style, and people are tired of it." And Hillary's all, "Clearly, I'm better prepared for the ugliness of a general election than that boy to my left." (OK, so really it was another person altogether who referred to Obama as "that boy," but why not throw it in there as part of it all?)

I will say this, though: Obama looked tired. Running for president would fucking blow chunks, dear B&E readers. I hope none of you have to go through it.

Emails from the campaigns are funny. Both grab onto a theme and try to raise money out of it...

Obama's all, "What's elite about the 1.3 million people who've given to our campaign? Let's make it 1.5 million!" Apparently I'm one of those 1.3 million already because I got the missus a shirt for Christmas. I mean, it was a gift purchase, not a donation.

Meanwhile, Hillary's all, "We're facing a candidate with an unlimited war chest. Even $5 can help make a difference in Pennsylvania!" Oh, Hillary, you scrappy underdog, you!

Polls, polls, polls, polls, polls polls polls. Man, there have been a lot of polls. Obama's catching up in Pennsylvania! Hillary's got the momentum! Obama can't beat McCain! Hillary never could! Obama's unelectable! Hillary's unelectable! Fuck polls. Why are we still putting so much stock in polls when they've proven to be so utterly wrong so many goddamn times?

Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean is apparently starting to put pressure on the undecided superdelegates to get off the fence and commit to someone already because John McCain is getting a free ride while the two Democrats bicker over stupid shit.

There's finally a big goddamn vote on Tuesday in Pennsylvania. Will it decide anything? Probably not. There's still a lot of election yet, and Clintons don't quit. After Pennsylvania, there's North Carolina and Indiana. They're coming up relatively soon, I guess. But gosh, this election is getting tired.

And that's What Stood Out This Week. A lot of "tired."