Yesterday, I read Four Things McCain Needs To Do This Week. I was a little disappointed that it didn't include "stop looking like a clay golem" and "sell Cindy at biker auction."

One thing that is top on his list, though, is introducing his confusing choice of running mate, Sarah Palin.

The 'obvious' reasons for her pick are all there: Baby with Down's syndrome, check. Pregnant teen that will "keep the baby" and "marry the father", check. Woman, check. Should appeal to women, young mothers, and parents of children with disabilities. Check. I can just imagine GWB's reaction on hearing his pick for VP: "Heey Mccainie, y'all will have the women vote sewn right up!"

Yeah... except some of us, you know, engage our brains every once and awhile.

And looking at this without looking at gender: any attacks McCain would have on Barak Obama regarding his 'inexperience' are now null and void, because McCain himself picked someone who's incredibly inexperienced herself: not a senator or congressperson, not knowledgeable about the inner workings of Washington, and yet another person who abuses their given power.

In contrast, Mr. Obama has had experience dealing with Washington, even if he's had limited time there. He picked one of the most experienced and socially aware Democrats to be his running-mate. Calls about his foreign policy inexperience are muted, because of his choice.

Okay.

Then there's the whole "teen pregnancy" thing that's currently making the rounds. Mr. Obama, of course, plays his card as "leave the family out of it." Very smart. But then Mrs. Palin drags out the whole thing: instead of just leaving the girl at home and having her decline going to the rally and therefore, avoiding public scrutiny (besides which, for a woman 5 months pregnant, it would probably be a lot better than "let's go sit in front of a million flashbulbs, holding a baby for hours and smiling"), she trots her out like a prize horse. Then, amid her 'strong words' to leave her family out of it, she trots out her baby-with-Downs and her son-in-Iraq, too.

Great. The girl is planning on marrying the father and keeping the kid: what could be better for your pro-life platform? How about the fact she's a teenager and five months pregnant and frankly if I was that far along in pregnancy the last thing I would want to do is trot out and have my mother lay my entire life before the press and having people take photos of me holding a child over my obvious baby-bump. I would object, if I were Bristol, to being brought out as Exhibit A: Teen Pregnancy, Pro-Life.

You could, and may, argue that it's better to have her there, showing support. Of course it's better to acknowledge the pregnancy: but therein lies my confusion over McCain's choice of running mate. Gov. Palin is a new mother with a four-month old baby with Downs Syndrome and a daughter who is pregnant and due around the time she'd be sworn into office. She also has an ongoing investigation into her alleged abuse of power in her home state.

Plate's a little full, honestly, for the VP thing.

Seriously, why wouldn't you respectfully decline? "While I appreciate Senator McCain's offer, I have to put my family and my political obligations first." I'd respect her for that. I don't respect what seems to me a naked grab for power.

It's just so confusing: McCain could have had his pick of anyone, complementing him in domestic and international affairs. He could have picked Condie, as much as I dislike her, and wrapped the whole thing up. Instead... it's confusing. I get the impression it mystifies a lot of people on both sides. It's like John Kerry getting the Democratic nomination. It makes you go "What? Who is that? Why are they up there?" except in Sarah Palin's case you can see the obvious reason she's up there: Hi. I have a uterus. It's nice to meet you all.

Maybe everyone else was too creeped out by McCain's startlingly clay-like Botoxed appearance to take the offer.

Which brings me to the other running points that McCain is trying to drill into everyone's head. First, his POW service. Okay, dude, I get it. You're a war hero. I understand. But much like my uncle can't herd a bunch of children in for lunch despite his very heroic acts in Vietnam, I'm sorry but as far as I go, neither can you. Heroism, while admirable, does not always translate into the ability to lead. You're going to have to show me something other than "I was a POW" to get my vote; I don't give my vote on pity or bravado alone.

Then, he's trying to distance himself from Bush, to convince people he's not going to be the "third term of Bush." However, much like any other calculated political move, he should have thought about that about four years ago. Instead, he's voted with Bush about, oh, 95 to 100% of the time. What was it someone said? "That's not maverick. That's sidekick."

Looking at Bush and McCain side by side: support domestic drilling for oil as one of the only solutions for an energy crisis? Yes to both. Staunchly on the pro-life platforms? Yes. All for war in Iraq and Afghanistan? Yes. Against universal health care? Yes.

I can't speak for their views more than that, really, since McCain has been so busy trashing Barak Obama over his lack of foreign policy experience and his supposed-riches that little else gets through. I know more about Obama's views than McCain's - if he's looking to distance himself from the current regime, he's going to have to quit using the same tactics Bush used four years ago.

I know Barak Obama's a stand-up guy. He's the one telling the press to leave Bristol Palin alone (not even her mother is saying that, as she's paraded across the stage). He's putting away for his kids' college. He's shown that his fiscally responsible, and both he and his wife are intelligent people. Sometimes opinionated, biased, intelligent people, but intelligent people nonetheless. I know he and his wife have been married for years and they have two girls. Under the national microscope, he's held up very well. He's an inspiring speaker and has support within his country and without. While he's leveled verbal attacks at McCain, like about how many houses McCain has, he hasn't gone-for-the-nads in his attacks - such as not attacking McCain's wife, even though the Wife-As-Pantswearer had been done in 2004, against John Kerry.

I'm not sure about John McCain. I know he's got a lot of houses and doesn't remember all the houses he has (though I'm sure he does NOW). I know he discontinued his 'Straight Talk Express' at a politically advantageous time, and I've watched video where he can't remember exactly what his position is supposed to be on certain issues, if speaking "off the cuff" as opposed to a prepared speech. I know he has some debt, even though his wife is super-rich. I know he left his first wife, I think, after some adultery. I know he's attacked Obama's middle name, his wife, his political ambitions, his lack of experience, his reluctance to open up more oil drilling, his lack of leadership, his travel to foreign countries recently, etc. I know he says he understands the hardship of the American people right now, what with some of us unsure about having a roof over our heads for another month, let alone putting food on the table, even though he himself obviously has satisfactory income to buy more expensive monkey-suits and doesn't have to wonder where his next meal will come from. I know he looks a bit like a clay golem and hasn't exactly satisfactorily explained his choice of VP.

I was pretty open to voting for either candidate at the beginning of this. While I lean Democratic, I wouldn't be opposed to voting Republican, provided that they were completely different - in a good way - than the Bush administration.

However, the more similaries that emerge between McCain and Bush, the more I lean towards voting for Obama. I don't agree with all his policies, but I'd rather have a gentleman in office who knows what's going on, as opposed to another 'regular guy' who can't remember what's going on and could really care less.