Odd Bits: August 2008

McCain up by 5

Latest Zogby/Reuters poll.

A week is forever in politics, and Obama was vacationing in Hawai'i, but with an unpopular president and war, a sluggish economy, and dissatisfaction with the status quo and with Obama hailed as the new messiah and given rock-star coverage, it's amazing Obama's not up by double digits.

Except -- that the Illinois senator hasn't completed his first term in the Senate, and has no notable achievements in his relatively young life. It will be interesting to see if Obama's charisma (style over substance) is enough to carry the day.

UPDATE: After Barack Obama Hype, a Backlash:

No human being can meet the wildly inflated expectations that accompany the rookie senator's every move. It can't help that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Obama "a leader that God has blessed us with at this time."

That's the kind of remark that can turn voters into problems. Most Americans famously resent being told an election is over months before the polls open or that God is taking sides. ...

So The One has been anointed. If I were running the Obama campaign, I'd be terrified. After all, the last person the media declared inevitable was Hillary Clinton.

Solar System is "Just Right"

Not too hot. Not too cold. The conditions for our solar system (and for life to exist and flourish) appear, after further review, to be "pretty special indeed."

Divine design or remarkable chance?

John Edwards: candidate who makes brave, cancer-stricken wife centerpiece of campaign cheats on brave, cancer-stricken wife

Life is full of irony (and cads).

Mickey Kaus has the details.

The Senator says ""being 99% honest is no longer enough." Hmm. Denying the affair was being "99% honest"?

He invited the scrutiny in a 60 Minutes interview:

But, I think every single candidate for president, Republican and Democratic have [sic] lives, personal lives, that indicate something about what kind of human being they are. And I think it is a fair evaluation for America to engage in to look at what kind of human beings each of us are, and what kind of president we'd make.

Well, OK then.

UPDATE: The famous trial lawyer doesn't sue for libel (i.e., the statements that he is the father of his lover's daughter). Hmm. Evidence enough.

UPDATE: As Cal Thomas notes, it's "Mama Mia" without the music - Mickey Kaus has a rundown of who believes Story #2. (Hint: nobody).