E'08: Vogue

Madonna Louise Ciccone (not pictured here), known by most simply as Madonna, released a song titled "Vogue" in 1990. A testimony to the magazine of the same name, it spotlit the 8x10 glossy nature of Hollywood. All that mattered was what was "on the cover of a magazine." Gobs of glitz, but makeup can only cover so much.

Such has become our nation, I fear. If that is in fact the case, Barack Obama will dance like Fred Astaire into the White House. On the night of the final primaries, when Hillary Clinton was feeling the stake penetrate deep into the heart of her presidential run, Obama delivered a speech of conquest with lyrical panache. What he said was mostly drivel, but he said it so well, I nearly registered Democrat.

On the flip side, I flipped stations and saw John McCain trying to rally the masses with the grace of Boris Karloff. Trying. Blah, blah, blah...smile...smile bigger...blah, blah, blah...gesture... smile ... nod ...blah, blah, blah. Yikes. Take me back to Iola Kludt's 10th grade English class and there I found far greater enthusiasm and zeal from that schoolmarm than John McCain forced last week. What was his message? I don't remember.

Therein is the problem. Obama, with all of his baggage, will sachet into the Oval Office with a message no one will challenge, a message (see his voting record) that would make Cold War America cringe. McCain will stomp and thump into the history books as an also-ran (see "Bob Dole") with a message no one will hear.

It's all about giving "good face." Barack gives it. John, well, John tries. But this ain't T-ball. Despite the better message (note: not great message), the face prevails.

Pat Sajak has sworn off the talking heads of television recently and only assesses the candidates in the coming election through the printed media. His article is a refreshing look at one who seeks to scrape away the Maybelline to see the real deal.

He, sadly, will be a mere pixel within the 300 million pixel picture.