Chihuahuacuda?

I heard that "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" was top dog at the movies this past weekend. Which had me wondering about the IQ of America's movie-going public--and whether it's the same as that of America's voting public?

The same weekend that "Chihuahua" hit the jackpot in the theaters, the McCain campaign announced that "the gloves are off" and the pitbull is officially on the loose. But actually, my impression is that the pitbull has herself morphed into something more like a ridiculously yappy chihuahua, chewing furiously on a piece of ancient history like it was a brand new rag doll. A Weatherman? With whom Obama once sat on a charitable board? And we know she'll soon be rushing back to revisit the Reverend Jeremiah for the nth time--at the risk of drawing attention to her very own witch-hunting reverend.

Meanwhile, a friend forwarded this thought-provoking list of questions, pertinent to the unstated issue of race in this campaign. I haven't see it elsewhere, but forgive me for duplicating it if it's making the rounds...

What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to?

What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his looks standards because she had a horrible auto accident?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5?

What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are? This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire? With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc.

Educational Background: This is truly startling

Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
&
Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
&
Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters – general study

Oh, and here's another Reverend who has been dropping in on The Buddha Diaries, and who writes her own blog at ThinkingFaithfully--a thoughtful reminder that, Bill Maher notwithstanding, not all faith is cant, and not all the faithful extremists. The Rev. Kathleen writes:

Enter Sarah Palin. During last night’s debate, I was startled the first time she gave that flirtatious little wink of hers. The second and third times I was simply revolted. This is the woman the Republicans think should be the political partner to the President of the United States? This is the woman who wants our help to bust through the glass ceiling right next to the one Hillary Clinton almost cracked? This is the woman we’re supposed to believe could competently lead our nation if a President McCain should die in office? And she’s letting us know that she’s ready for all of this because she’s so…cute??

It’s probably too much to hope that Palin feels a bit ashamed of herself. She’s been using these li’l lady tricks for much too long. But the Republican party, and especially smart, competent Republican women, should be ashamed. What we need is experience and savvy, intelligence and creativity, skilled diplomacy, intellectual curiosity, compassionate attention to those who suffer, brilliant problem solving, a good dose of humility and as little self-righteousness as is humanly possible.

As they say in the pews, Amen!