AN OBAMA MOMENT

Some of you seem to object to me calling Barack Obama "The Chosen One." Well, sorry 'bout that. Perhaps you'll feel differently after reading this bit from Ezra Klein, the associate editor of The American Prospect. I found it in David Freddoso's book "The Case Against Barack Obama." Obama, by the way, doesn't like the book. Sorry 'bout that too.

"Obama's finest speeches ... enmesh you in a grander moment, as if history has stopped flowing passively by, and, just for an instant, contracted around you, made you aware of its presence and your role in it. He is not the Word made flesh, but the triumph of word over flesh, over color, over despair ... Obama is, at his best, able to call us back to our highest selves, to the place where America exists as a glittering ideal, and where we, its honored inhabitants, seem capable of achieving it, and thus of sharing in its meaning and transcendence."

Now .. if you'll please turn to page 95 in your hymnal we'll all sing "What a friend we have in Barack."

Cue the halo.

ANGLING FOR THE JERK HALL OF FAME

O'Reilly got caught last week being a hypocrite. When it was disclosed that Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter, was pregnant, O'Reilly promptly told his viewers that this was a private family matter. Several media types quickly pointed out that O'Reilly had a very different take when Jamie Lynn Spears turned up pregnant at 17. In that case O'Reilly told his listeners that the blame was to be assigned to Spears' parents.

One of the people who pointed out O'Reilly's hypocrisy on this matter was Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Cynthia Tucker. Tucker and I often disagree, but she nailed O'Reilly on this one. So, what did O'Reilly do? He sent a video crew out to ambush Tucker as she arrived at her home on Saturday morning. You can read the story of the confrontation here.

I've never been a fan of this type of ambush journalism. If you're trying to track down a heinous criminal or a corrupt public official who is hiding from the media, that's one thing; but when you send your crew out to assail someone at their home because you've experienced a personal sleight ... that's quite another.

I'm sure O'Reilly's audience is anxiously awaiting his preening and crowing over this stupid encounter on his show tonight.

JUST CURIOUS

The New York Times ran an article over the weekend about Sarah Palin's former church in Alaska. I'm not sure .. but just how long did it take the Times to run an article about Obama's church?

NO PALIN FOR OPRAH

So Sarah Palin got the big "no" from Oprah. Palin will not be appearing on Oprah's show. There's a chance that Palin will be invited as a guest "after the campaign is over." Here's Oprah's logic as to why she won't have Governor Palin as a guest: "When I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates." Uh huh. Oprah, of course, has every right to take this stance. It is her show, and she seems to be quite a success at it.

Oprah also wanted to put the bed the rumor on Drudge Report that her own staff was fiercely divided on the issue of having Palin as a guest. Oprah says the story is "categorically untrue." That would be because there hasn't been discussion of having Palin on during the election. I guess Oprah is in on every discussion.

Yeah .. we're buying that one too.

By the way, did anyone find Oprah's eyelashes at Invesco?

MCCAIN BEATS OBAMA ...

Now here's a surprise. When it comes to watching political conventions, the Republicans beat the Democrats in the number of viewers. Believe it or not, more people actually tuned in to see John McCain give his acceptance speech in St. Paul than The Chosen One in Denver. While it was close, McCain had 38.9 TV viewers, which is slightly more than Obama's 38.3 million viewers. It is believed to be the biggest commercial TV audience ever for a single night of a political convention.

On the whole, an average of 34.4 million tuned in to watch the Republican convention over its three main days, compared to 30.2 million viewers for the Democrat's four days. Now if Gustav had been more severe, this might have been a difference story. If John McCain had not picked Sarah Palin to be his VP, this might have been a different story.

But the people are watching ... the people want to know what Republicans have to bring to the table. And apparently they liked what they had to say .... Because ... we had a ....

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION BOUNCE

The Republicans did in fact see a post-convention bounce in the polls. The McCain-Palin ticket holds a slight lead over Obama with 49.7% support for Republicans, compared to 45.9% for the Democrats. Gallup shows McCain ahead 48% to 45%. Battleground states are split; Colorado, Michigan and Pennsylvania for Obama, Nevada, Ohio and Florida for McCain. This will go back and forth ... but one thing for sure, we have ourselves a horserace here.

OBAMA ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

I just wanted to bring you a few moments from the campaign trail ... the moments when The Chosen One doesn't have his teleprompter.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Obama slips and mentions "my Muslim faith." Now you watch this video for yourself. Obama tells George "You're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith ..." George interrupts to say "Your Christian faith." Obama responds with "My Christian faith ... well, what I'm saying is that he hasn't suggested that I'm a Muslim." Draw your own conclusions ... but I do wonder what Stephanopoulos is doing correcting him.

In Indiana, Obama tries to explain what he has learned since being president. He does correct himself, but this is not the first time we've experienced this kind of mix-up with Obama or his campaign. Remember the presidential seal? Or how about when he made his speech in Berlin and his advisors tried to say that is wasn't a political speech because, "When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally." A reporter had to remind him that he wasn't the President.

Okay, so those were fun. But what is Obama saying about the issues? To a crowd in Pennsylvania, Obama tried to dispel the rumor that he would support a ban on guns if elected president. Here's how it is reported ...

"'If you've got a gun in your house, I'm not taking it,' Obama said. But the Illinois senator could still see skeptics in the crowd, particularly on the faces of several men at the back of the room. So he tried again. 'Even if I want to take them away, I don't have the votes in Congress,' he said. 'This can't be the reason not to vote for me ...'"

Well now ... there's an interesting take. It just wouldn't be right for you to vote against Obama because he might want to take your guns away because, after all, he wouldn't have the votes in the congress to get it done. Well, let's see. Using that logic it wouldn't be right for you to vote for Obama if he wanted to suspend the Constitution because he just doesn't have the votes to do it. Yeah ... makes perfect sense to me.

OBAMA ON TAXES

It is rather doubtful that anybody will challenge Obama on this ... but he recently said that he would delay repealing the Bush tax cuts on the evil rich if the economy is in a recession. And why would he do that? Because he knows as well as the rest of us that if he raises taxes on the wealthy, this will have a negative effect on the economy.

The voters must remember this about Obama. The Chosen One has admitted that raising taxes on the wealthy is not guaranteed to result in any increased government revenues. He has said, though, that he wants to proceed with those tax increases not necessarily to raise revenue, but because it's an issue of "fairness."

When you figure that out, give me a call.

THE GOVERNMENT TAKES CONTROL

Over the weekend, the federal government took control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in a move that could cost the taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. The companies have now been placed in a government conservatorship, which will be run by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. This is the agency that was created by Congress over the summer to act as a regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The executives and board of directors are also going to be replaced by people selected by the government. The Treasury Department may have to put up as much as $100 billion for each company over time in order to keep the companies afloat.

I don't pretend to be smart enough to follow all of this. One thing for sure - much of today's mortgage crisis is a direct result of pressure on mortgage lenders from the left to make loans to people who did not qualify for them.

LAST FRIDAY NIGHT ...

Really, I don't know what to say. I'm just so appreciative of the tremendous reception you gave me when I walked out onto that stage at the Cobb Energy Center Friday. I spend day after day in a studio talking to you folks .. but seeing nobody other than Belinda, Cristina and Royal. Then when I walk onto a stage to a standing ovation I'm just completely blown away. Thank you so much.

Judging from the emails those of you who were among the 3000 who saw the show really enjoyed it. I know that Sean Hannity, Mike Huckabee and Dick Morris enjoyed themselves immensely. We also want to offer our thanks to Allen Hunt, Herman Cain and Mark Arum for their part in the program.

The entire thing was videotaped and will be available on Comcast On Demand in the Atlanta area in a few days. Meanwhile, check out some pictures here. Some are just screaming for your captions.

Again ... for all of us ... thanks for the tremendous reception. Here are a few of the emails we received:

• Message:
  What a wonderful evening in Atlanta Friday night!
  I would love to see you take your "act" on the road to college campuses. My son is at Auburn and they would love to see you all! Maybe for each McCain supporter, they should ask a liberal friend to attend....maybe some liberal minds can be "informed!" Elizabeth Hasselbeck would be a good addition to your group...she could help with young voters and young working moms.
  Thanks again for a great evening,
  Cindy
• Message:
  Mr. Boortz,
  You and your friends provided the most wonderful evening I have had since I don't know when. My boys (13 & 15) said they will never forget that night. They are big fans and I am raising future leaders.
  Although now a single mom, the money I spent for 3rd row seats was a very wise investment in my children's life education.
  Thank you so much for what you do, the educating & entertaining.
  Respectfully,
  Cindy (Davis & Corey)
• Message:
  Wonderful evening at the Cobb Energy Center. Thanks to you and your hard-working staff. When is the next one?
  Jay

AND ... TO WRAP THINGS UP FOR TODAY ....

And just to show that all is not sweetness and warmth from the listeners, here's another email for you to enjoy!

I'm a relative newcomer to your show. Being a bit of an insommiac, I recently found Re-Boortz on AM 750, so I listen to you in the wee hours of the morning before I start my workday. Your format is typical talk show radio. You cater to the lowest common denominator i.e., racists, conservatives and the poorly educated (oops this is redundant) who can't get enough of that same old, tired drivel about all the losers out there who are sucking at the government teat. Given the low intelligence quotient of your listeners, I don't blame you. You say you are a Libertarian, but it must be a hybrid variety (i.e., Republican-Libertarian) for you have absolutely nothing positive to say about the "Democrat" party or any of its members and there is much to criticize about both sides especially the Republican side at this point in time, but you never do (I suppose it can be said that you know who your masters are). You are only "listener worthy" when you take on the religious right and when you highlight governmentshortcomings (endless). Like your peers, you too have spoken out of both sides of your mouth when expediency (look it up) called for it. Over all Neal, you provide an invaluable service to me; I'm able to drift in and out of consciousness using your show as so much background noise; you confirm my lack of faith in the ability of the public to think critically (or at all); and your success only goes to show that in America, a superficial blusterbus with minimal education (notwithstanding the law degree you never miss an opportunity to tout) can become a resounding success and reap untold financial rewards. God bless America and keep up the good work Neal!!!

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Congress' first order of business upon returning to work ... extending unemployment benefits. A sure vote-getter there.

John McCain and Barack Obama are going to appear together at Ground Zero on 9/11.

McCain says that he'll make his cabinet work for $1 a year. Is that $1 each?

Want the details on that 6.1% jobless rate? I'll give you a hint ... you can thank government. More specifically .. you can thank past extensions of unemployement benefits.

If you like to keep up with hurricanes ... here's an amazing website.

McCain and Obama had a few words over the weekend over social security.

Are you going to try to use those frequent flyer miles? Get ready to pay your fuel surcharge.

The latest controversy ... whether or not Republicans took discarded American flags from the DNC to use at a McCain-Palin rally.

An article from the Guardian in the UK (of all places) about the media coverage of Sarah Palin ...When Barack's berserkers lost the plot.

House Republicans have declared their protest over energy and drilling a success.

Ford has created a new car that will get 65 mpg. But it is not going to be sold in the United States. Would you care to guess why?

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has determined that we should eat less meat in order to curb global warming.

Speaking of global warming ... this summer was one of the coldest on record for Alaska.

Here's some insight into a $100,000 gazebo that Obama had built as a state senator. Things didn't go quite as planned.

In Maine, almost 80% of government school students failed the state's writing test. The education officials' response? Throw away the test scores.

A new study out of Great Britain says that pollution can make children fat.

A lawyer in Illinois has been banned from a local park because he asked people if he could tickle their children.

Oh, and just for the heck of it, we'll link to the sexual harassment suit Bill O'Reilly was hit with a few years back. Interesting reading. You'll never look at a falafel the same way again.

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