Just a week ago the Democrats and Republicans alike were under the impression Bacak Obama was going to have a problem with his fundraising efforts (I commented on that here) but the Obama camp released the August fundraising numbers – $66 million.

Now that the conventions are finished and there are 51 days left until the election, let’s see how both camps do raising money.

Very impressive on Obama’s part. As I said before, polls are one thing but money is something you cannot argue.

I have a big problem when someone tells me how to live my life. The majority of my time on this world I’ve spent creating an environment that allows me the flexibility to make decisions on my future with minimal input from the outside world. While I know I do not live on the proverbial desert island, I will always have outside influences, I want to decide what is best for me – not have someone else do it for me. That is why this story on the election, and Obama, gets me:

All 22 countries covered in the poll would prefer to see Senator Obama elected US president ahead of Republican John McCain. In 17 of the 22 nations, people expect relations between the US and the rest of the world to improve if Senator Obama wins… “Large numbers of people around the world clearly like what Barack Obama represents,” GlobeScan chairman Doug Miller said.

Two things strike me right away:

1. What exactly does Obama Represent?
2. How does the rest of the world know what he represents if the general American voting public is having a hard time understanding what he brings to the table?

From what I’ve read in the press, and from Obama’s website, his positions are rather liberal, borderline socialist, to me. I don’t mean that in a “darn those liberals” sense but helping free services for everyone and raising taxes sense.

If you look at other the political landscape of countries most are extensively more liberal than the United States. A large number of countries believe in large social aide programs, universal / near universal health care, significant gun control and simply giving to their people simply for the sake that they are citizens. My guess that is exactly why other countries like Obama – they see in him what they have in their government. So, when I see an article like this I can almost hear the world saying “Look, he’s like us – you should take him so you are like us.”

For better or worse the United States has made its way on its own terms. Sometimes the world loves what we’ve done, others not so much. The thing is I wouldn’t have it any other way. Simply because one is used to a liberal government doesn’t mean it would work for the U.S.

9/10/08 Update:

Guardian.co.uk – The world’s verdict will be harsh if the US rejects the man it yearns for

FTA:

If Americans choose McCain, they will be turning their back on the rest of the world, choosing to show us four more years of the Bush-Cheney finger. And I predict a deeply unpleasant shift…If Americans reject Obama, they will be sending the clearest possible message to the rest of us – and, make no mistake, we shall hear it.

This statement is akin to saying electing Obama is like having a second Kennedy administration. Two different people standing up for what they believe in.  All Democrats are not the same, all Republicans are not the same.   Yes, McCain is a Republican but not a Bush disciple.  There is a clear history showing how Bush / McCain do not get along.

It sure seems as if the world is trying to tell us what to do… Don’t elect McCain or else (and I picture someone waving a finger at us as if we are a kid who just got caught with their hand in a cookie jar).  I have questions about McCain, but even more about Obama.  My desire to see McCain in office grows more and more every day – seeing articles like this in the press only helps it grow.

Without a doubt, polls can be utter crap – we pointed that out yesterday. Sure they show McCain in the lead but that really doesn’t mean anything at this point. What is hard to dispute is cash.

According to this CBS article, McCain pulled in $5 Million dollars in 5 hours. That is one heck of an accomplishment for a guy who was having problems rising any funding almost three months ago. What is even more interesting is the money was raised in Barack Obama’s backyard – Chicago. I am not suggesting McCain has a chance in Illinois but such successful fundraising effort in the largely Democratic Chicago is very impressive.

If cash is a barometer take a look at Obama. Reports are coming out that he is having a hard time reaching his fund raising goals. The trend appears to have started in June. Is this a sign that his support is starting to wane for the Senator or simply the up and down of a political campaign?

In business it is often suggested that if one wants to understand why and event is happening, if one wants to get a general sense of where things are headed, the prudent thing to do is follow the money. I believe the same is true in politics.

Others say…

Rightvoices wonders if Obama is running out of fund raising options
Hotair does a breakdown of some numbers
Swamppolitics – McCain-backers say fundraising has ‘taken on a life of its own’ with Palin

I have a fear – the Cult of Palin.

In the press, around the blog world, and in the streets people are talking about the performance of Sarah Palin. It seems that the Republican Party has a rock star of its own and now people are basking in the feeling.

Stop.

In less than a week Sarah Palin has been able to refocus and energize the Republican Party. The tone switched from despair to unbridled enthusiasm and, all of a sudden, it seems that anything is possible.

It is.

It is, only if you don’t lose site of the goal. My fear is the Party gets so wrapped up with Sarah that John McCain is lost in the background. Remember, this isn’t about electing her President.

What this really comes down to is translating the emotional, and political, capital gained from her speech Thursday night into votes. John McCain, Sarah Palin and the Party need to continue to show why they are the winning ticket and how they will provide change while doing so better than Obama / Biden would. Now McCain/Palin need to sell:

• Taxes, how the McCain Tax plan will impact the Average American vs. Obama
• Economy, specifically the small business owner
• Healthcare
• Personal Freedom (Second Amendment)
• Ethics

Take the enjoyment and focus it on the cause, winning the election.

Watching Sarah Palin deliver he Republican Nation Convention speech was a thing of beauty. I felt as if I was watching history in the making. After the performance last night, I believe the media will have a difficult time declaring Palin a gimmick. Aside from taking on the attacks of the Democrats and the Media, Palin did something that was lacking, for me, from this election – made a connection to me as a voter.

While I share values that cross party lines, my big complaint of this election, and of the Republican Party, is that I have difficulty connecting to their core belief system these days. The party has turned into a spending power, one that has a hard time describing and clarifying their position, and seems to be growing a bigger government – not smaller. It appears Palin is for smaller government, for giving back to the people, for less frivolous spending and for protecting personal freedom.

Palin doesn’t fit into the current “Republican” definition, the one seen in Washington D.C. today. She is an outsider in today’s political world. I would argue that she is what a Republican truly is, what I want to see in the party, and why I connected with her. But what about others, did they connect?

From the four people I spoke to today, ones who are willing to look beyond their political party, the answer was yes. She inspired and created a sense of community. She connected with these individuals unlike any other Republican candidate this election cycle; however, will that translate to votes? That is yet to be seen. The big problem for John McCain is that he now needs to deliver one hell of a speech tonight.

Other coverage on the net:

• Focus Group: Palin Was (Alarmingly) Strong
• Sarah Palin: Uppity Woman Who Needs To Learn Her Place
• Sarah-Cuda Appears at the RNC (VIDEOS)
• Ace of Spades reactions
• All I Can Say Is…
• THE BIG NIGHT! THE PLACE IS FRICKIN LIT UP LIKE AN CHRISTMAS TREE!

This morning I posted how Sarah Palin is representative of the U.S. population more than any other candidate in the last twenty years and the Politico.com seems to be of the same mind set.

As I said before, if the Camp McCain plays its cards right this will be a huge asset to the campaign.

Much like the residents of 49 of these United States, I know very little about Sarah Palin.  My first exposure to her came in April of 2008 when she gave birth to her son Trig who happen to be special needs.  The news had coverage of the story, and that she was a rising star within the Republican Party, but I never really gave her much attention after that.  Then came Friday, August 29th, 2008.

So, who is she?  What does she stand for?  What does she believe?  I’m very curious…let’s see what we can find out.

The Basics:

• Name: Sarah Louise Heath Palin
• Born: February 11, 1964
• Education: BS in Journalism from the University of Idaho
• Party: Republican
• Current Occupation: Governor of Alaska
• Family: Married with 5 children

The Experience:

• Two Term Wasilla City Counsel member
• Two Term Wasilla Mayor
• Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
• Governor of Alaska

Her views:

• Abortion: Pro Life
• Marriage: Anti-Gay Marriage
• Death Penalty: Supports
• Energy: For Bio Fuel, Supports Drilling in ANWR
• Evolution: Supports creationism to be discussed in school
• Gun Control: Supports the right to bear arms

Controversies:

She is under investigation for the firing of Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.  Palin stated Monegan was released due to not filling vacant state trooper positions, as well as adhering to the budget. Palin offered Monegan a position as executive director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which he turned down. Monegan claims he was let go as retaliation for his reluctance to fire Palin’s former brother-in-law, an Alaska State Trooper.

I hope this gives you a good starting point to understand who Sarah Palin is. No doubt, more information will come out within the next 60 days.  As it does, I will continue to update.